Keep Pushing the Envelope

Potential for Rotary Growth

Among the 40-plus businesses based at Denton Airport, All America Helicopters and Longhorn Helicopters are the rotary training providers, and airport manager Quentin Hix notes that helicopters are on the airport’s economic development priority list.

Says Hix, “One of the things that we’re trying to do in the near term is develop a helipad on the west side so we can move that traffic over there.At the same time, we’re keeping our options open and looking at maybe developing a heliport. There’s a market up here for that, and it’s one of the economic development directions that we’re taking a look at.”

Hix says the airport gets helicopter traffic for NASCAR events, held just south of Denton, for Dallas Cowboys games, and for the nearby University of North Texas athletic activities.
He comments, “We feel there’s a need for additional charter services beyond helicopter services. Right now, the predominant traffic is of course the flight training, but we’re also in a position to provide transportation services within the Metroplex for any special events. There are nine general aviation airports in the Metroplex. One of the events that we’re forward planning is the 2011 Super Bowl. I serve on the aviation action team, which is a subgroup of the Super Bowl host committee.”

Next Step: An Enterprise Fund

Denton Airport manager Quentin Hix thinks his airport has attained sufficient “critical mass” to be self-sustaining — his next challenge. “I would like to take the airport to the next level here, which is to establish it as an Enterprise Fund,” he explains. “I believe we’re positioned to do that. The management through whom I report and myself have worked very diligently to make sure the airport is recognized as an economic development engine, as a service provider that is poised to grow.

“The council has recognized it; I feel confident that we not only have a busy five-year plan but the opportunity to structure our financial operation in a way that we become an Enterprise Fund.”

He points out that the City of Denton already has its municipal electric provider and public utility board operating as Enterprise Funds. “It’s recognized that you can get top quality service and achieve a maximum potential of service by operating as an Enterprise Fund. So, yes, I expect that it will be recognized and supported,” he says.