Nampa’s Airport Manager Wants to Attract More Corporate Aircraft

Colleen Hartnett learned to fly in 1990 at the Nampa (Idaho) Municipal Airport. Now she's running it. She took over as airport manager after Dan Henry's resignation in November, after he had overseen several improvements during his five years at the helm. As the new manager, Hartnett said she hopes to continue building on Henry's efforts through marketing, reaching out to the community and staging special events. Now, she wants to attract corporate aircraft. "I've tried a little of everything, but I like the business side," she told the Idaho Statesman newspaper. Under her guidance, the terminal lobby has been rearranged and redecorated for the comfort of the pilots, offices were moved downstairs and an attendant meets and offers service to each plane at the gas pump near the terminal. The airport's Web site also has been updated."We have a lot of big ideas," she said. "It just takes a little time to do it."The paper says that Hartnett, working with the airport commissioners, plans to make Nampa (S67) a destination airport for pilots flying through and for those who want to get to Boise or the surrounding area. (Nampa Muni is 12 nm from KBOI.) They want to attract airport-related businesses, such as corporate aircraft and charter companies. A semicircle of large aircraft and service or business hangars is proposed around hangars for smaller craft. Jeff Ekberg, a pilot and small general contractor, has teamed with other business operators to build the first corporate hangar. Once finished, the hangar will house nine aircraft, including two small jets.Ekberg said the Nampa Airport has a great location in the center of the Treasure Valley. Pilots can land and take off with no delays, the land leases are affordable, and the mechanics and other avionics people at the airport do good work, he said. Plans also are in the works to build a helicopter pad, offer jet fuel and develop another 20 acres in a few years. "I see it growing," said Dan Linett of Linett Aviation, a charter service and flight school that opened at the airport more than a year ago. "That's why we're here," he told the newspaper.