June 29--DAGGETT-- Officials of the San Bernardino County Department of Airports held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate runway improvements made at the Barstow-Daggett Airport.
The airport underwent approximately $3.5 million worth of updates over the last two years, Terry Stover, county airport assistant director, said on Friday.
"The airfield has been there for 60 to 70 years now," Stover said. "Most of the runway lighting systems were pretty antiquated."
The improvements were funded by a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, he said.
The project was completed in two phases. An extension to Taxiway Bravo was completed in February 2012 and, phase two, the installation of new LED lighting and directional signs, finished in mid-February of this year.
"It greatly enhances the safety of the airfield for the users of the airport," Stover said.
The Barstow-Daggett Airport is located about 12 miles east of Barstow off Interstate 40 and is a joint-use airport for public and military use. Fort Irwin has a flight detachment and maintenance hangar located there.
Representative Wally Linn of Congressman Paul Cook's office and Dawn Sikes for Assemblyman Tim Donnelly's office both gave brief speeches at the ribbon-cutting, he said.
San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Robert Lovingood was also in attendance with his field representative Ron Frame. Thursday morning's ceremony lasted 20 minutes.
Several Hollywood celebrities have been known to use the airport because of its remote desert location, according to maintenance worker Chet Munch.
A few years ago Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt flew their personal planes into the airfield frequently, he said. Both stars have pilot licenses.
Former California Gov. Arnold Scwarzenegger has been sighted there, as well as the late actor Patrick Swayze, whose plane once broke down there.
Contact Brooke Self at [email protected] or 760-256-4122.
Copyright 2013 - Desert Dispatch, Barstow, Calif.
