In its 80th year, Smith Field Airport has its first supervisor.
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, which now controls Smith Field, has hired Tim ODonnell to supervise the citys north-side airport. He begins Aug. 30.
ODonnell, 29, has managed El Monte Airport in California since January. The Smith Field job represents a homecoming of sorts for ODonnell, who became interested in airport management in 1998 as an air traffic controller at the municipal airport in Columbus, Ind. He is a husband and father of one boy, with family throughout Indiana.
In recent years, Smith Field has been as controversial as it is historic. The authority voted to close the airport in 2002 before a powerful citizen campaign helped pressure the board to overturn its own decision less than a year later.
ODonnell said via cell phone Friday he has done his research and plans to listen to current customers and let the airport take shape.
Things are going to be changing, but it is very important to keep the existing customers happy and content, he said of the airport that sits on 250 acres. Community involvement in an airport is priceless.
The Indiana Supreme Court struck down a 2-year-old lawsuit challenging the legality of the airport authority this week, a decision that could benefit Smith Field.
Airport officials had blamed the lawsuit for delaying completion of Smith Fields airport layout plan, making it eligible for federal funds. The airport authority, which also oversees the operation of Fort Wayne International Airport, will consider a proposed $22.6 million budget this month, with $1.8 million of that slated for Smith Field.
About 400 aircrafts are based at El Monte Airport, ODonnell said, compared with 60 at Smith Field.
Pilots have been hesitant to bring their aircrafts to Smith Field, and ODonnell said his greatest challenge will be attracting patrons.
Whether they are transient customers or permanent tenants . people in the whole region know Smith Field is open and there are going to be opportunities there.
ODonnell earned an aviation management degree from Eastern Michigan University, though much of his work was completed at the University of North Dakota. He is about halfway toward a business administration degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Los Angeles. He hopes to finish that degree through correspondence courses.
One person with knowledge of the hiring process, Rick McElroy, Fort Wayne International Airport treasurer, said the board considered more than 30 applicants, who were screened extensively.
- Age: 29
- Hometown: Born in San Jose but has lived in Michigan, Indiana and North Dakota
- Experience: Detroit Metro Airport, operations assistant June 2000-February 2003; John Wayne Airport, Calif., operations officer July 2003-September 2004; Compton/Woodley Airport, Calif., manager September 2004-May 2005; El Monte Airport, Calif., manager, January 2005-present
- Family: Married with 8-month-old son
- Military experience: Air traffic controller with the U.S. Marines and a civil engineer with the Michigan Air National Guard
Copyright 2005 Associated Press
