By Lee Jay Carpenter
Texas Aviation Association
PLAINVIEW – In this “hustle to get things done” society that we live in, many common courtesies are overlooked. We often forget to open a door for someone with arms full of packages or to help a child cross a busy street. In business, many personal services are overlooked in order to make the all-mighty dollar as fast as possible. As a result, good manners often take a back seat to “progress.” The good ol’ days when folks talked slower and took the time to make sure a customer was completely satisfied seem to have all but vanished. However, common courtesy and good manners are still alive and well in Plainview, Texas.
When planning a cross-country flight, I’m always on the lookout for an airport along the way where I can refuel my single engine Grumman Tiger. One day while flying to Dimmitt, a remote town located southwest of Amarillo, my wife said, “Look, what’s that airport?” I realized then that we were crossing Hale County Airport in Plainview, Texas. Since Dimmitt does not have AvGas for sale, we decided to land and refuel in Plainview.
Hale County Airport is located about 35 miles north of Lubbock. The facility has four runways. Runways 13-31 measure 4,000 feet in length and runways 04-22 are just three feet short of 6,000 feet. Runways 04-22 both have GPS (Global Position System) instrument approaches and runway 04 has a VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) instrument approach. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Aviation recently resurfaced the runways, thus providing an excellent facility.
I was surprised to find that unlike most airfields, Hale County Airport (KPVW) has two airport managers. What’s more, these two managers are competitors for your business. Mike Hutcherson runs Hutcherson Air Service on the southeast side of the field and Tim Hardage operates Rocket Aviation (formerly Miller Flying Service) on the north side. Together, these two friendly competitors operate the airport with excellent efficiency that emphasizes West Texas hospitality.
Hale County Airport has a rich history of great service, long runways and down-home friendly people. This facility has the kind of folks who make sure your every need is met, no matter what time of day. Piston and Jet-A Fuel are available along with services that include engine repair, aircraft rental/sales, hangar rent, pilot’s lounge, flight planning rooms and rental cars. OK, most airports offer similar services, but do they furnish that service 24-hours a day, for no extra charge? Courtesy cars are available if you want to drive into town to eat. However, if time is really short, you can radio in a request for hamburgers from your arriving aircraft and by the time you land, Hutcherson said that he would have a hot meal waiting for you. Try to find that kind of service in other areas! The state motto of Texas is “Friendship.” Plainview certainly lives up to that boost. Everyone smiles in Plainview. They wave, too, even to strangers. A friend of mine once remarked that he thought there might be something in the water that makes everyone so friendly. I explained that this is West Texas where friendship, common courtesy and manners live and thrive. If your needs cannot be met, any citizen will go out of their way to see that someone can help you out.
The local newspaper, The Plainview Doily Herold, posts “Plane Talk,” a regularly featured column that lists visiting pilots, business persons and even student pilots that receive their ratings. The City of Plainview supports General Aviation with pride. I sat down and talked with the two managers of Hale County Airport.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Claude Hutcherson, Mike Hutcherson flies all over the United States in a King Air among other aircraft including one of his favorites, the Beechcraft Bonanza. He continues the tradition of supporting the Wayland Baptist University girls’ basketball team. Claude Hutcherson, along with coach Harley Redin began flying the team in their aircraft to games and tournaments around the country. The team became known as the “Flying Queens.” This team soon became famous because of their win records and the fact that they flew to most out of town games. The Flying Queens moved into their home court named, what else, Hutcherson Center in 1971.
Among the plaques and awards on Hutcherson’s wall of fame are pictures of the “Flying Queens.” Still, he is humble and doesn’t wear his acclaims on his sleeve. Instead, he is willing to take time to make sure each and every customer who visits Plainview feels welcome. Hutcherson gave me a wooden nickel. No, not like the nickel that is worthless. He explained that when I visited Plainview again, to present this wooden nickel and I would receive five cents off on each gallon of AvGas that I purchased; that definitely got my attention. This sales pitch continues a long tradition of promotion started by his father, Claude.
Back in the 1960’s, Claude used to give away billfolds to potential aviation customers. Inside the billfold was a dollar bill with a note saying that this bill would buy one airplane ride over Plainview. It was said that this promotion attracted more non-flying people to General Aviation than any other device. He knew to sell aviation first and then sell the airplane. This personal touch with customer satisfaction continues with his son, Mike.
When asked about having two managers at the airport Hutcherson explained, “Plainview is only big enough for one FBO (Fixed Base of Operations), but we don’t have trouble sharing the duties.” He said that each business has their regular loyal clients but that most of the airport’s customers are from out-of-town. He continued, “PV\/1/ is a good half way paint between the east coast and the west coast. Business jets traveling across the country find that Plainview is just about halfway between the borders and they will stop here for the convenience, competitive prices and goad service that we offer.”
Across Runway 04-22 is the Rocket Aviation FBO, which is owned and operated by Tim Hardage. Hardage recently purchased the business from Marlin Miller of Miller Flying Service. For many decades, the Miller family has nourished aviation in West Texas. Marlin’s father, James Miller, began acquiring Taylorcraft airplanes in the ’30’s and 40’s and encouraged his friends to learn to fly. After World War II, James Miller bought some land near town and helped to open the Hale County Airport with Miller Flying Service as the manager. James Hardage and his business partner Marge Mitchell ran Miller Flying Service and became the Bellanca Aircraft dealer selling the popular and fast flying Super Viking.
Later, the business was taken over by James’ son, Marlin Miller. Miller continued the tradition of excellent service, and maintaining the airport in proper shape. He said, “Dad was the famous Bellanca dealer and he would usually make 50 phone calls a day to make deals. I took over his tradition of doing business as a gentleman. Back in the 70’s we were selling 30 airplanes a month.” Miller, now 74, has agreed to sell his business to Tim Hardage. He said that he will remain at the airport indefinitely as Hardage’s spokesman, helping to make the transition. His mother Elvie Miller is moving back from Houston, and he’ll be taking care of her. “She is 98 years old,” said Miller.
Tim Hardage learned to fly at the Hale County Airport. “I learned to fly over at Hutcherson’s and worked for Mike Miller from 1986 to 1989 while I attended college. I flew charter flights and taught flight instruction, so we get along very well,” said Tim. Tim also became a spray pilot in 1997. He sold his spraying business in 2004.
In addition, Hardage worked for and flew Pete Laney, former Texas Speaker of the House, on government and personal flights. Laney resides in nearby Hale Center and is a big supporter of General Aviation. Laney has taken over Tim’s position on the board of directors of the Hale County Airport Advisory Commission.
Tim Hardage and his father, Bill Hardage, had talked to Miller about the sale of Miller Flying Service on several occasions. Two weeks after agreeing on the terms, Bill Hardage was killed in an accident while flying a Mooney Cadet airplane that he had just purchased in California. He was on his way back to Texas when the accident occurred.
“I was bitter,” said Hardage. “That crash took my partner and my best friend.” He explained that the emptiness in his life after losing his father made him contemplate giving up the flying business. He had been a spray pilot for nine years and thought that perhaps this was a sign that his flying career was over. “However, after a while I decided that the flying business is still what I wanted to do,” said Hardage. “After I discussed the situation with my wife Stacie, I decided it was best for me to press on and complete the purchase of Miller Flying Service.”
“My goal is to increase the business and become more pro-active,” said Hardage. “I plan to go out and find airplanes to buy and sell. Dad and I were doing this anyway. We had five airplanes.” Hardage presently owns a Vans RV4 experimental homebuilt aircraft that he calls the “Red Rocket.” However, he is looking to buy Miller’s inventory which includes two Piper Cherokees and three Bellanca Super Vikings.
When asked about the name change from Miller Flying Service to Rocket Aviation Hardage replied, “I didn’t want my name on it. I wanted to keep the Miller name but my lawyers said, “No.” His lawyers explained that liability issues could rear their ugly head. “I am not a Miller although Marlin Miller said many times that I’m the son he never had.” Rocket Aviation will continue with the same employee staff, service and reputation developed by the Miller family. “Nothing will change except the name,” said Hardage.
Currently, Tim and Stacie Hardage are remodeling the old Miller FBO building. A new metal roof, pilot’s lounge, flight planning room and large new windows are being installed to make visitors more comfortable.
Hardage also spoke of the continuing economic impact that the airport will provide for Plainview. The nearby Wal-Mart Distribution Plant has a facility with over one million square feet and there is a new 24-hour Wal-Mart Superstore. Also, there are plans for a new ethanol plant to be constructed east of Plainview. Cargill, also, has a meat packing facility here and there is new interest in oil and gas exploration in the area. All of this new commercial activity will entail extensive use of the Hale County Airport for business travel.
Both Hutcherson and Hardage explained that long-range plans for the airport include extending Runways 04-22 to 7,000 feet in length. This would allow the most modern business jets to land and toke off with full fuel. This project, along with the great service that Hardage and Hutcherson provide, would further boost the local economy. “We own the land, but some buildings will have to be purchased,” said Hardage. “TxDOT Aviation needs justification that traffic would increase and I believe it will. We have cross-country business jets arriving regularly and we try to provide the best service so that they will return. These pilots have choices. Many choose to land here as opposed to Lubbock because of our lower fuel prices and 24-hour service.”
Hardage explained that he lives just three minutes from the airport, and he will give quick and personal service, if he knows that a pilot is arriving. “It’s all about customer satisfaction. Once pilots receive our personal service, they’ll return,” he said.
The future for Hale County Airport looks bright. With the new commercial development toking place in Plainview, air traffic is expected to increase. Both personal and business aircraft will be welcomed by professional and courteous personnel at the airport. The next time you’re in West Texas, drop by and visit the friendly folks at Hale County Airport. They’ll have a pot of coffee on and a warm smile to greet you.
