DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Something is amiss at the Tullahoma Airport according to several stake holders at the facility, noting that recent crashes and major fuel spills are symptomatic of the airport’s ills.

“If the runways are clear and the gas is cheap, we’re happy,” Dr. Mike Bennett said, noting that pilots often don’t notice how airports are being run. “But we found, over the past couple of months, that the airport had some significant problems. It wasn’t being managed as we, the pilots, thought it should have been managed.”

He pointed out that the airport board also figured that out and that is why there is a vacancy. “That’s why we are looking for a good new airport manager,” he explained, noting that process can take time but help is needed right now at the Tullahoma Airport. That is why he was a supporter of Ashley Udick as the interim manager. “We need someone to come in, tell us what we don’t know, tell us how to fix it and get us on the right pathway.”

Rodney Allison, owner of XP Services, owns some hangers at the airport. He pointed out there was a crash at the airport and procedure wasn’t followed. He noted that recently there was fuel spill that will cost the city thousands of dollars.

“We have to have an airport manager that follows procedure,” he said, noting that Udick is the perfect person to set things straight and get the airport ready for a permanent manager. “Ashley is the Patrick Swayze of ‘Roadhouse’. She is going to come in here a fix the problems.”

Alex Engler, who has an airplane of the airport, hopes to have industrialization of the airport and for it to be better used in the future.

Mitch Davis noted he has a lot of money invested in the airport and that he has noticed things have not been going well at the airport.

“There’s definitely a need for transparency,” he said, noting it is time to house clean and turn things upside down at the facility. “Right now your tab is over $650,000 not including lost fuel, lost revenue and all kinds of other things.”

He said he wants someone who won’t be influenced by others at the airport or in the city. “The airport has been suffering from a process called Munchausen at work. It’s not just known here but it’s known across the United States.”

He pointed out the poor reputation of Tullahoma Airport has spread far and wide. He also added there are 60 people on a waiting list for hanger space right now. He pointed out Tullahoma had the airport of the year in 2017.

“There’s too much sideline antics going on over there right now,” he noted, adding there was a plane landed belly down but there were no markers put up to prevent other planes from landing and crashing into the disabled plane.

That’s the kind of things that are going on,” he said. “We can’t afford that as an airport, as a community, as people who fly with our wives, children and families in our aircraft.”

Kathy Manis is on the search committee to find a new airport manager. She said there are some resumes that have come in for a permanent manager. She hopes to find the best fit.

Ashley Udick was voted in as interim manager with those making public comment saying they believe she is the best person for the job while a search continues for a permanent manager. She will be paid at a rate of $35,000 for three months work.

“With our aerospace background, our airport is extremely important,” said Mayor Lynn Sebourn. “We need to get things on the right path as soon as possible.”