Pictured is rendering for the new runway at the Monett Regional Airport. The new runway will be located south of the existing airstrip, which will be converted to a full-length taxiway. Contributed photo
Longer runway, safety improvements planned
Monett will receive an $11.3 million federal grant for runway and other improvements at the Monett Regional Airport.
The announcement was made Thursday by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo.
Planned improvements consist of paving the way for a new longer runway, extending and converting the existing runway to a full-length taxiway, and making additional safety improvements to accommodate larger aircraft and increased activity at the airport.
The initial phase of construction includes earthwork and grading of the new runway with the paving phase to follow. The Monett City Council accepted the grant and approved a funding agreement at the councils Aug. 20 meeting, with construction scheduled to begin this fall.
A new, longer runway allows for larger planes to utilize Monett Regional Airport, said Dennis Pyle, Monett City Administrator. This will be a significant benefit for those companies that have planes based here and should also increase transient air traffic. The result should be increased fuel sales that support airport operations and future improvements.
The new runway will provide more opportunities for our airport during inclement or less than ideal weather conditions. Previously, this would have meant diverting flights to other airports and creating logistical issues due to modified travel plans.
The improvements will benefit local businesses in other ways, as well.
We have several large corporations with plants in Monett and our airport is used frequently for corporate travel, Pyle said. By having an airport with the capacity to accommodate business jets, these companies can efficiently transport personnel that saves them time and money.
With a longer runway, Monett operators will no longer be forced to reduce fuel loads and range, effectively allowing for businesses to operate bigger aircraft, and reach many international destinations nonstop, said Brian Hunter, vice president of travel for Jack Henry & Associates, a large Monett employer. All of this will allow greater safety margins, and more fuel to be purchased locally. This additional capability will attract users and businesses to our city for decades to come. I cant thank the city council enough for their leadership to improve the airport.
According to an economic impact study conducted for the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Monett Regional Airport generates 82 full-time equivalent jobs with a $4.2 million payroll and annually contributes about $13.1 million to Missouris economy.
The Missouri Department of Transportation estimates that the Monett airport has a $13 million economic impact on the local economy annually, Pyle said. This investment in our infrastructure will support local businesses and grow the economy of the bi-county region.
The airport serves several major corporations that have a presence in the Monett area, supports emergency medical transport and law enforcement operations, supports training missions by the Missouri National Guard and U.S. military, and provides flight training for student pilots and maintenance operations performed by certified fixed-base operators.
The stronger and safer our states transportation infrastructure is, the stronger the opportunity for continued growth and new jobs, Blunt said in a statement. This grant funding is great news for the airport and all of the businesses and residents in the area who rely on it.
