Folks who don’t get over to Columbus Municipal Airport too often might not fully appreciate how busy it is and how important it is to the local economy. That was never truer than it was last year, and from the looks of things, there is plenty of blue sky ahead.
Jana Wiersema reported in The Republic a few days ago that the airport’s annual report for 2022 came out recently, and airport Director Brian Payne said it was “the most successful year we’ve ever had.”
In fact, Payne’s report says the airport “increased based aircraft which has led to more operations than ANY other year in the history of this facility by nearly 10%.” By any measure, that’s a remarkable statistic.
Here a few facts about Columbus Municipal Airport from its 2022 annual report:
- There were a record 55,303 operations last year, making it the fourth busiest towered airport in Indiana.
- The airport has an estimated annual economic impact of $650 million.
- There are 80 aircraft based at the airport, which covers more than 2,700 acres of ground on the city’s east side. And the airport is poised for the number of aircraft based there to grow significantly.
Last year was a year of significant improvements in and around the airport, including four new hangar developments. Payne reported that more than $4 million in Federal Aviation Administration funding also paid for fence, road and apron paving improvements, among other things.
With the airport’s proximity to the Columbus Learning Center, IUPUC and Ivy Tech, the opportunities for aviation-related education are outstanding — and growing.
As Wiersema reported, Ivy Tech Community College-Columbus has partnered with Leadership in Flight Training (LIFT) Academy, owned by Republic Airways, to offer a professional flight associate of applied science degree program. Payne expects LIFT to move into the airport and begin flight training during the next couple of months.
The developing Propeller makerspace at the AirPark also is bringing more activity to the area, as does the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum. Last year, the museum dedicated the refurbished “Charlie” C-119 “flying boxcar” as part of its collection, which recalls the airport’s origins as the military airfield affiliated with Camp Atterbury.
There are many more highlights from the past year in the annual report, available online at columbus.in.gov/airport.
But in addition to looking at the year that was, the report also makes clear that the airport is only now really taking flight.
This year, new EV charging stations are proposed to be installed for electric planes and cars. The airport’s oldest hangar, a 1942 “roundtop”, will undergo restoration this year to accommodate the LIFT program. In the coming weeks, the Hangar 5 restaurant at the airport will reopen with a totally refurbished kitchen. The airport also hopes to start a Women in Aviation International chapter this year.
“The Airport Master Plan, a 20 year document outlining future projects with the FAA, will be completed in late 2023 as well. It is clear that growth is always on the mindset at Columbus,” the report says.
Looks like Columbus is clear for takeoff.
