Cook Airfield Inc., in Derby, Kan., has grown from 21 based aircraft nearly seven years ago to 54 now. Airport owners and tenants want to continue to expand the airport, and AOPA is working with them to prevent a road block.
Aviation service providers interested in coming to the airport have indicated that the airport needs to lengthen its 2,507-foot-long runway to support their operations. In order to meet that need, the airport owners are acquiring property and getting the permission necessary to expand.
The problem is that a county road would need to be closed. The road has been vacated, the zoning has been changed, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission has approved the move. Now, the airport owners need the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners to approve their request.
AOPA wrote to the county commission, expressing its support for expanding the airport.
“Cook Airfield is a growing and viable general aviation airport,” wrote AOPA Manager of Airport Policy John Collins. “In an economic climate such as we have today, it is refreshing to see a general aviation airport that is successful. AOPA strongly encourages the Board of County Commissioners to support that enterprise and grant the request to vacate.”
The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners will meet about the issue on at 9 a.m. July 21 in the Commission Meeting Room on the third floor of the Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita.
