Dec. 19--Part of Tait Middleton's heart has been hinged to Salina's airport since he was a tyke, and now he's part of the family that aims for a much better year in 2014.
The Salina Airport Authority board on Wednesday approved the lease of 4,900 square feet of hangar space to a son-father team -- Tait and Dave Middleton -- to begin TDM Aerotek, an aircraft repair shop. The hangar is at 2010A Kneubuhl, next door to the Salina Regional Airport control tower.
"This is my airfield, the one I grew up around," Tait Middleton said.
TDM is available to serve clients immediately, Tait Middleton said, by calling him at 829-0491. He will be at the office daily beginning Dec. 26.
A U.S. Army veteran, Dave Middleton was a private pilot when he moved his family to Salina nearly 40 years ago.
"He would rent an airplane out here and I pretty much grew up flying in the back seat," Tait said. "He would take me along and also would buy me a Dr Pepper at the vending machines."
Those excursions sparked an airplane passion in the youngster that endures today.
"It's been my whole life," said Tait, 43.
Growing up, it was common for youngsters his age to "spend time at pasture parties and watching movies in the basement," Tait said. His pastime was the airport.
"I would go out there and watch airplanes land. I used to take dates out there," he said.
Happy to have 'em
The airport is happy to have the tenant who will add to the process of filling a need for aircraft maintenance and service businesses on the airfield.
The airport authority deferred $6,000 in rent until the tail end of the lease for TDM, which will pay no rent in January, $690 a month from February through June, and increasing incrementally to $1,770 a month by 2017. The total value of the four-year lease is $65,400.
"Tait is a Salina native and a graduate of the K-State aviation program. He is a graduate returning to the community, and Dave Middleton is a base pilot with an aircraft based at the airport," said Tim Rogers, the airport authority executive director. "We have a new operation that can really grow at the airport."
Just over a decade ago, Tait Middleton enrolled at Kansas State University at Salina and completed a degree and certification as an airframe and powerplant mechanic, and began his career at Raven Aero Services in Junction City.
Time to launch
He was waiting for the right time to launch a business at home.
"Junction City gave me my start and a good foundation to come back and offer a good service in Salina as well," Tait Middleton said.
Dave Middleton will serve as the business manager and Tait will attract the clients and do the work. Also an adjunct K-State professor, Tait intends to start an internship program with the university.
It's a family business
"I think this is gonna grow," Tait said. "I don't see any way it can't."
He's married with three children who share his attraction to the airport.
"It is a family business. That is what we want to circle around," Tait Middleton said.
-- Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by email at [email protected].
Copyright 2013 - The Salina Journal, Kan.
