Ankeny's New Airport

A CRITICAL MASS

John Peterson, director of community development for the City of Ankeny, credits what he terms a critical mass of civic and business leaders in the region who made the airport and nearby development a reality. "It's benefited the whole northeast portion of the county," he says, "and has spun off a number of other projects, such as the bypass around Des Moines.

"And there continues to be an effort through the city's industrial development corporation as well as a regional group that is representative of communities in the region. We're now in the middle of a major retail power center on the other side of the interstate." In addition, a new exit off Interstate 35 just south of the airport is being prepared.

Adds Segin, "Without the other communities, we would not have had the tax base required, particularly that of Polk County, to make all of this possible. It's been a true partnership, but that kind of development has been the overriding emphasis. That's the reason Polk County got involved and needs to stay involved.

"The new I-35 interchange south of the airport is also a joint project, between the city, county, and state. The land uses there are intended for business. We're just looking to grow this thing out."

AIRFIELD DEVELOPMENT

The Ankeny Regional Airport officially opened in 1993, and today sports crosswind runways and an ILS. The FBO, Exec 1 Aviation, has some 130 based aircraft, up from 35 just four years ago, and last October was appointed a Cessna new aircraft dealer, which is being headed up by Jeff Denniston, who has been the FBO's general manager for the past five years. The company also has a King Air and two Navajos available for charter, and offers maintenance, aircraft rental, and flight training, with some 70-75 students on average, according to Denniston. He estimates annual revenues at $2.5 million and monthly fuel flow at 25,000 gallons.

Exec 1 is co-owned by local businessman Barney Bushore and attorney Lee Walker.

While the FBO terminal facility was built by the authority and is leased to the FBO on an annual basis, tenants are allowed to retain ownership in other hangar/office facilities. Property leases average 20 years with two five-year options.

John McGlaughlin, the Des Moines weatherman who bases his aircraft at Exec 1, has tracked the airport's development since it opened and says he is continually encouraged by the local support he sees.

"From the media perspective," he says, "and covering the area this entire time, we've been kind of surprised on the lack of public outcry over any particular issues. We've had a lot of businesses interested in the airport, and in fact when the airport was first built the runway was 4,000 feet. But the businesses said they need a longer runway if they're going to bring in their King Airs and Citations, and so now we're at 5,500 feet, plus we have the crosswind and the ILS. And hangar space has become almost non-existent." In turn, new t-hangar construction is now under development.

IOWA MARKETING INITIATIVES

ANKENY, IA - In 2000, the Iowa Department of Transportation created a dedicated marketing manager position, which officials say may be the first of its kind in the nation. The intent: promote the economic benefits of airports to Iowans and attract users from outside the state.

Explains Roy Criss, the DOT's first aviation marketing manager, "In 1999, the state legislature asked DOT to bring them suggestions on what the legislature could do to improve the air transportation system in the state. So, the DOT seated some 20 people with different backgrounds and from different industries, called the Committee on Air Service, and delivered several recommendations, one of them being to establish at the state level a marketing position. The 2000 legislature did not move forward with the recommendation, so the DOT took it upon themselves to make do with what they already had."

Criss's annual marketing budget is $175,000, with another $300,000 set aside for an air service marketing program for commercial airports. He says airports use the funds in a variety of ways: radio and TV spots; print ads, brochures; special events; public appreciation days; to hire consultants who specialize in air service development; and even for registration and travel expenses related to marketing seminars.

"What we've tried to do is relax the administrative rules and not be so bureaucratic, and make the guidelines more flexible so the commercial airports can use the money as they see fit. It's not my job to tell Des Moines International how to specifically spend the money."

Marketing initiatives by the office of aviation have included a website that promotes economic impact; television and radio ads during Iowa and Iowa State football games; and a billboard campaign that appears in the seven most populous cities in the state. They promote general aviation airports, as well.

"Our core message," says Criss, "from day one has been economic impact and the use of airports as economic development tools." He has also directed production of a video distributed to civic and business groups to promote the state's airports.