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Jun. 11--AMANA -- Roughly a year after floodwaters closed the Amana Airport, the privately owned general aviation facility has reopened for public use.
The 53-year-old airport at 950 48th Ave. in Amana is owned by Thompson Aero Inc. It sustained damage to a Quanset building and adjacent office when the Iowa River swelled over its banks in late May 2008.
John Thompson, owner of Thompson Aero, said the airport reopened May 22 after repairs were completed over the winter months. The airport is normally closed from the first snow in late fall to early spring, according to AirNav.com, a Web site used by pilots. Thompson said this year's long winter de layed reseeding of the grass runway. He is urging pilots using the airport's 2,600-foot runway to limit braking when possible to give the turf a chance to mature.
Thompson said the airport is primarily used by private pilots flying into Amana. He is preparing for the airport's busy season, which will start around the last week of June.
According to AirNav.
com, the Amana Airport averages about 25 aircraft operations per week.
Three aircraft are based at the facility.
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