|
Wausau Downtown Airport Frequently Asked Questions |
|
1. Who owns the Wausau Downtown Airport? The City of Wausau owns the Wausau Airport, which includes the land, the buildings, and all the pavement. 2. Does the Wausau Airport have scheduled passenger service (airline service)? No. However, the airport has unscheduled passenger service, better known as air charter. The Wausau Downtown Airport is a base for Air Direct Charter. Charter services offer a variety of airplanes, and fly on the passenger’s schedule, as well as offer more destination airports than the airlines. 3. Who runs the Airport? Wausau Flying Service, Inc. has the contract with the City of Wausau to manage the day-to-day operations at the airport. John P. Chmiel is the manager of WFS and the airport. The airport manager reports to and advises the Airport Committee and the Common Council on airport related issues. The seven members of the Airport Committee (4 Alderpersons, 3 Citizens) are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council. The Airport Committee makes recommendations to the council on the maintenance, operation, control, fees, charges, and contracted services for the Wausau Downtown Airport. 4. When does the Airport Committee meet? The Airport Committee meets the second Wednesday of every other month. Meetings are held in the Terminal Building conference room at the airport at 6:00 pm and are open to the public. The first meeting of the year is held in February. Additional meetings are scheduled as necessary. 5. What does Wausau Flying Service, Inc. do at the airport? Wausau Flying Service, Inc. has two separate contracts with the city. WFS has the contract to manage the airport, as well as to provide aviation services (FBO). Some airport management responsibilities include daily inspections of the airport premises, daily airport upkeep (mowing/plowing), airport budget recommendations, and airport promotion. WFS also serves as the liaison between the airport users, general public, and the city. 6. What services are available at the Wausau Downtown Airport? Wausau Flying Service provides hangars, parking, and fuel to local and transient airport users. WFS personnel coordinate ground transportation (taxi, car rental, courtesy car) and lodging for transients. WFS offers flight training, aircraft rental, maintenance, and charter service as well. 7. How much does the airport get used annually? In 2000, we estimated there were over 30,000 operations at the Wausau Downtown Airport (an operation is a take off or a landing). These operations are calculated using the number of local active airplanes and their average annual operations per year. When a transient aircraft lands, they are requested to sign in on an Airport Log. These aircraft are then added to the annual operations estimate. 8. How many hangars are there at the airport? There are currently 40 T-hangars at the airport. These are rented to individuals on a monthly basis for aircraft storage. Revenues are collected by the city. Additionally there are three corporate hangars (two 10,000 sq. ft. and a 5,760 sq. ft.). These buildings are rented by WFS from the city. All the hangars at the airport are currently full. 9. How many airplanes are based at the airport? As of August 2008, there are 79 airplanes based at the Wausau Downtown Airport. That includes: 1 jet, 1 twin engine turbo prop, 4 twins, 1 helicopter, and 4 seaplanes. 10. Can jets use the airport? Yes! In fact there is a jet currently based at the airport. Jets and turbo prop aircraft are using the airport more than ever, and jet fuel sales are at an all time high. 11. If I don't fly, how does the airport benefit me? Many local businesses use the Wausau Downtown Airport every month. These businesses, and the people they bring in, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Wausau area annually. It might even be a business you do work with. The airport is an “off ramp in the sky” that helps build and maintain the Wausau economy. 12. Why is it called the Wausau Downtown Airport? The name of the airport was changed in 1994 from the Wausau Municipal Airport. The new name was chosen to better reflect its location in the Wausau Metro Area, and to differentiate it from other airports in the area. 13. Does the airport close at night or on weekends? No. The airport is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If safe conditions at the airport cannot be maintained (like during a snow storm), the airport will be closed by the airport manager to inbound/outbound aircraft. Wausau Flying Service, Inc. operates normal business hours. If aircraft require services beyond normal hours, then WFS will provide personnel for a fee. 14. Can I build my own hangar at the airport? Yes. In fact, the city has created an “airport ground lease” to encourage this sort of expansion. For more information, contact the airport manager at taildraggerflyer@yahoo.com.
|