The deal that the city of Great Bend has with its airport operations team is good enough that Airport Manager Martin Miller wanted to see the deal extended. And the Great Bend City Council agreed with him, approving a five year agreement with Centerline Aviation to operate as the Fixed Base Operator for Great Bend Municipal Airport.
Miller proposed to the council that the company also take over the operation of the city’s self-service fueling system, and that was included in the proposal the council adopted.
Miller explained that Centerline has already increased its full service fuel sales by a great extent, leaving the city with an average profit of $1,310 per month this past year, compared to a loss of $414 per month before Centerline took over.
A lot is due to the service that is now offered, as well as the promotions that have educated the flying community about what Great Bend Municipal Airport has to offer.
In addition, Miller said Centerline has extended pilot training, is teaching flying classes through the community college and providing other services that are encouraging the growth of the flying sector in this area, which is also good for business.
According to information from Centerline’s Web site about its training program: “Private Pilots Certificate will allow you to take friends or family to anywhere in the world you would like. It is the first step in your aviation training.
“You will also be able to fly any kind of single-engine airplane under 200 horsepower.
“To fly a multi-engine aircraft it is a short time of training and a checkride.
“If you wish to fly a high performance or complex aircraft it requires additional training from an instructor.”
Extending the agreement with Centerline to five years with a clause that makes the agreement renewable for another five beyond that was also endorsed by the Airport Advisory Committee, Miller told the council.