More improvements and more plans keep the Grove City Airport's prospects for the future flying high.

And the people who lease the airport in Springfield Township from Grove City point to the positive attitude of borough council and hard work of airport employees for taking the airport to greater heights.

"This is our fourth year here and we're very passionate about our belief in the airport and that it's a valuable community asset," said Steve Rhule of Mercer, who along with Doug Thomas of Grove City, leases the airport from the borough. "We're doing everything we can to support the community effort in developing the airport, and we're getting a lot of support from them. We're still interested in developing business out here and also having a lot of fun."

In the fall, council members showed Rhule and Thomas their support by accepting a federal grant for $300,000 on behalf of the airport. By accepting the grant, the borough is making a commitment that the airport will remain open for the next 20 years. If it doesn't, the money would have to be prorated and paid back.

"The council has been very supportive of our efforts, the hallmark of which was the acceptance of the airport grant for improvements, which was the first grant accepted in 12 years," Rhule said. With the grant, the airport has been developing a master plan of improvements and removing trees around the runway to "improve the safe arrival and departure of aircrafts," Rhule explained.

He added that the grant money is set aside for airports from fuel and ticket taxes. "We're not taking money from any other government programs. If we do not take this money, only other airports would get it," said Rhule, who assists in managing the airport and co-owns Silent Wings Soaring glider operations inside the airport.

Still in the works is an airport-based restaurant and additional T-hangars, which provide additional privacy and security for plane owners who want to store their crafts at the airport. "We feel that we're getting much closer," Rhule said. "The plans are coming together nicely."

Rhule reiterated that the smooth working relationship with borough officials and community residents can only help the community grow and enhance business opportunities.

"It's something that people and businesses are looking at when they move into the area. The airport provides a convenient and critical way to move in and out of the area. The airport can be a deal breaker, for whether a business moves into the area or not," Rhule said. "We're a little isolated from metropolitan areas. So this airport provides a great way to access these areas."

He also said that emergency medical aircraft, such as air ambulances, can refuel at the airport 24 hours a day because of a special system designed for fuel access.

"It reflects well on this area for people who arrive by air, and we're being visited by both corporate and private operators coming in to visit and shop," Rhule said.

Plans are also in the works for celebrating the third Oakley Kelly Day May 4. The event's name comes from the late Oakley Kelly, who lived in Grove City and made the first nonstop transcontinental flight in 1923.

"It will be the 80th anniversary of his flight," Rhule said.

Plans include skydiving, glider rides, music and good food. "We don't want to lose sight of the fact that there is a significant recreation community developed around the airport," he said.

Rhule said everyone working at the airport plans to continue developing and promoting it.

"We feel very, very positive about our relationship with the citizens of the borough and their representatives on borough council and its significant commitment on the part of the borough to keep the airport running for a long, long time," Rhule said.

"We've done everything that we've originally said we would do. The airport is now providing a positive cash flow to the borough for the first time in many, many years. We're paying our bills, our rent and our taxes. It's being operated at essentially no cost to the borough and that's a big change.

"The airport is always looking to the future. It's a valuable asset now. And it's not an asset that can be replaced if we lose it."

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Sherris Moreira-Byers at sbyers@sharonherald.com

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