Wingtips Winter 2011

Major Changes Recommended for TXDOT:

On January 5, 2011, a high level committee, named the Texas Department of Transportation’s Restructure Council, tasked with recommending change for TxDOT, delivered their findings in a Special Meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission. The Council members are David Laney, a Dallas attorney and former Chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission; Jay Kimbrough, counsel for the Texas A&M Board of Regents; and Howard Wolf, a well known Houston attorney specializing in assisting companies or organizations experiencing difficulties.

Together, they reviewed the Grant Thornton report, along with several earlier reports, examining various aspects of TxDOT. The purpose of the Council was to examine and extract from the reports, as well as any other sources the Council deemed appropriate, recommendations for the restructure, reform and modernization of TxDOT that would have the most valuable and lasting impact on enhancing TxDOT’s organizational performance. For those interested in reviewing the report, it can be found at http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/restructure/ report_0l0511.pdf. The primary reason for including this information in my column is to highlight the Council’s comments pertaining to aviation and air transportation. On page 29 of the report is a section on Aviation and Passenger Rail. The following comments pertaining to aviation are taken from that section.

“The demands on transportation systems in Texas today are enormous and will increase in the foreseeable future. Texas’ approach to these challenges must encompass more than just roads. Rail, aviation, ports, and transit, for instance, already play significant roles in moving people and goods. TxDOT’s direct and indirect coordinating roles in the development of capacity and interconnectivity of all elements of Texas’ transportation systems should be appropriately embodied in the organizational structure as strategic elements in addressing the future mobility challenges of Texas. General aviation and rail planning are of particular importance.

General aviation airports represent an increasingly valuable transportation asset for Texas and for the individual communities they serve. For instance, the approximately 270 general aviation airports are responsible for nearly 61,900 jobs and nine billion annually in economic impact. The Council recognizes TxDOT’s efforts in building and maintaining a nationally recognized airport system and encourages the Commission to include general aviation, along with other modes as significant partners with rising importance in solving the state’s transportation challenge.”

The role of our state’s airport system is not well understood by the general public. I am extremely pleased that the Restructure Council realizes the importance of general aviation and saw fit to acknowledge the work that has been done to make the Texas Statewide Airport System one of the best in the nation. I also appreciate the Council pointing out the fact that our system will play a significant role in helping solve our transportation problems and contributing to the future economic growth of Texas.

If you ask retired Air Force Colonel and current big Spring McMahon-Wrinkle Airport Manager Jim Little if winning the Texas department of Transportation’s 2010 Airport Manager of the year award was the culmination of a great career, he would respectfully argue that he was just getting started.

From overseeing recently completed airport improvements that include reconstruction of a concrete runway (17-35) to assuring the airport was prepared to serve as a critical hub for ALON USA Refining personal after the 2008 explosion, Colonel Little oversees a thriving airport that makes the citizens of Big Springs proud.

Rich History
The Big Springs Airport opened in 1929 and the following year became one of the first air mail hubs in Texas. The airport also had a brief period of commercial airline service with Trans-Texas Airways (later to become Texas International). Trans-Texas Airways operated flights in and around the Lone Star State from 1947 to 1969, and is fondly remembered as “Tree Top Airlines” because of the radial twin propliners in its fleet, such as the Convair 240 and 600.

In 1942, the airport became the site of the United States Army Big Spring Bombardier School and subsequently trained over 6,000 aviation cadets in high altitude precision bombing as bombardiers. In 1945, the airport returned to municipal airport status, where it served as such for seven years.

Brought back into service because of the Korean War, the base was renamed Webb Air Force Base on May 18, 1952, to memorialize 1st Lieutenant James L. Webb, a Big Spring native and World War II (WWII) combat pilot in Europe, who was killed off the Japanese coast flying a P-51 Mustang in 1949. As a jet pilot training facility during the Korean and Vietnam wars, over 14,000 pilots earned their wings in Big Spring.

The Webb Air Force Base was formally deactivated in 1977. Housed in a restored WWII airplane hangar on the grounds of the Big Spring Airport, the Hangar 25 Air Museum opened in 1999 and is dedicated to the men and women who served at the Big Spring Army Air Force Bombardier School and Webb Air Force Base. Among the museum’s collection are an AT-11, T-38, T-28 and Beech AT-11.

Moving Upward and Onward
Colonel Little has served as Big Spring McMahon-Wrinkle Airport Manager for over seven years. A graduate of the University of North Carolina and the University of Northern Colorado, he joined the Air Force after college and spent nearly 30 years in aviation support roles and command and staff positions. After his career in the Air Force, Colonel Little worked for the American Cancer Society. Having met his wife while training at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, they then decided to return to her hometown.

”When we moved to Big Spring, I became involved with the community and the airport board,” says Colonel Little. ”The airport director job became available, and I was asked by city management if I would take the position, which I did. It’s worked out well and I’ve really enjoyed working on different projects with the airport board and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).”

Among the recent improvements at the Big Spring airport include the reconstruction of an 8,800-foot, 11-inch thick concrete runway.

“Our attitude in deciding to build a concrete runway (versus asphalt) was that we wanted this facility to grow,” says Colonel Little. ‘We already had the long runways, but if you have a long runway that can’t support a heavy plane, then what good is it? We worked closely with TxDOT and Big Spring Economic Development to build the runway, which will now support aircraft up to a 737. Right now we are in the process of upgrading the taxiways and aprons to support that expansion.”

The improved runway and modern terminal facility make the Big Spring Airport a desirable destination for both industry and recreational Hiers. While some people may question the need for such a large runway, the forward-thinking Colonel Little saw it as a necessity to support current and potential industries in Big Spring.

“For some people and companies, an airport is insignificant until they need it,” explains Colonel Little. ‘When we had the explosion at the (ALON) refinery, it was amazing the number of people, such as insurance agents, company executives, reporters and fire fighters, who flew in to visit and work. The airport at that time underwent the biggest one-time usage that I have seen, and we were ready.”
Executives from Western Container, HEB, Wal-Mart and Fiberod, as well as an onsite Air Evac helicopter for medical emergencies, regularly use the Big Spring Airport. Local corporations, as well as the Regional VA Hospital, and a very large prison industry, patronize the facility.

Above all, Colonel Little strives for not only a top notch facility for aircraft to land, maintain and refuel, but a place for guests to feel at home.

“My favorite story about the airport happened one Sunday morning not long ago. I stopped by the terminal after church just to check on things, and noticed five large corporate jets parked on the tarmac,” relates Colonel Little. “I went inside and found 15 to 20 people conducting business in our conference room, using our pilot’s lounge to relax and work, and basically making themselves at home, which was great. It certainly made me think we were reaching our goal of meeting the aviation needs of this community.”