by Kevin Zimmermann
(WHBL) – The Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which got an upgrade in forecasting from the National Weather Service Wednesday, is on track with other improvements as well, even while the pandemic threw a wrench into the works.
On the same day the airport received its first custom forecast, staff was given a walk-through of the new Customs facility that Airport Superintendent Matt Grenoble says should be completed on August 1st, right on schedule.
Grenoble said that international traffic from events such as the Ryder Cup golf tournament was definitely a factor in getting the new facility, and the TAF – or “Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts” – from the National Weather Service will help pilots better plan arrivals and departures. Other improvements included reinforcing parking ramps to support heavier and larger aircraft.
While the airport has taken a hit from the pandemic-induced downturn in the economy, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. That, according to Grenoble, is due in part to the private, general-aviation traffic which remained mostly stable, as well as corporate traffic supported in part by Road America, which is allowing spectators to the popular road course.
The Airport is a County owned-and-operated facility, and although revenue does come from fuel sales and other airport-related traffic, Grenoble has to put the facility through the budget process like all other departments. However, $69,000 is expected from the CARES act to make up for shortfalls this year, and only a few line-item adjustments are anticipated as prep for next year’s budget now gets underway…meaning that our airport is doing better than many, and it should stay that way.
