By Sara Strong
The Luverne Airport Board is looking forward to the possibility of a flight instructor to be stationed at Quentin Aanenson Field.
Rob Dykstra, Sioux Falls, is a crop sprayer, retired Air National Guard member, and certified mechanic and flight instructor. He’s interested in stationing flight classes out of the Luverne Municipal Airport to help increase traffic and exposure.
"I’m more than willing to promote aviation," said Dykstra, who will negotiate a tentative contract with the board.
A possible runway expansion would mean more than a part-time person would be ideal at the airport, but until then, Dykstra could be what the airport needs to improve service.
Any instructor at the airport would be an independent operation, not a city employee. Dykstra did indicate he would like a deal on gas prices (paying 20¢ over cost) for the extra traffic he’d bring to the airport.
He may be willing to do minor mechanical work on planes, such as changing tires. Air taxis and cargo flights could be available through Dykstra if he decides to add those services.
"He’s been doing this forever and we’re lucky to have someone like this looking at us," board member Dave Paquette said, referring to Dykstra’s good reputation in aviation circles.
Any single or multi-engine flight classes would be advertised as they become available. They would probably cost students about $20 an hour.
One thing that sets Dykstra’s classes apart from some flight courses is that he prefers to teach basic flight procedures, including map use. He said global positioning systems can sometimes fail and cause pilots to make mistakes.
"I like to teach with the real world in mind," Dykstra said.
Runway expansion
Airport layout plans are at the state waiting for approval. The Federal Aviation Administration and the local Planning and Zoning board also have to approve of the layout before it can be carried out.
If it goes through, the project would cost $2 million, with 10 percent of the project’s cost coming from the city of Luverne,
The runway would be 25 feet wider and 1,700 feet longer than the present one.
The board will also address the closing of the township road just to the south of the airport, running east and west.
The township road’s closing is mandated by the state because of proximity to the current runway, which the airport has been cited for in the past. The township and city also face liability hazards with the road there.
If the runway is extended, the township road could no longer exist, even if people supported putting up with state citations for it being there.
By closing the township road, other roads would get increased traffic and the Airport Board is looking into how those roads can be handled to make dust control or capacity manageable.