From left, Aviation Indiana Executive Director Bart Giesler, Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers and Indy South Greenwood Airport Manager Rick Ferrill pose for a photo after receiving a plaque recognizing the airport being named 2022 Airport of the Year.
Submitted Photo | City of Greenwood
Indy South Greenwood Airport has been named Aviation Indiana’s 2022 Airport of the Year, officials announced Thursday.
Aviation Indiana is a trade association that advocates for aviation interests, and provides a network for general aviation, support industries, aerospace educators, airports, fixed base operators, aircraft owners and operators and pilots at all ratings levels. The Airport of the Year honor recognizes outstanding efforts in economic development, aviation education, community outreach, airport promotion, safety and security, environmental improvements and aesthetics, networking and professional development and administration, city officials say.
Greenwood’s airport houses many businesses and organizations including three flight schools, two aircraft sales operations, maintenance services, a charter business, the Greenwood chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association — or EAA — the Civil Air Patrol and Indiana State Police Special Operations. It also hosts Airport Day, an annual event that draws thousands of people to the facility, according to the city.
The facility sees nearly 28,000 aircraft operations annually, which has more than $15 million in economic effects on the area. The airport also doesn’t charge landing or ramp fees or receiving any tax-base support for operations, according to the city.
This year, the airport has experienced accelerated growth across aircraft operations, fuel sales, on-field businesses and airport employment. Also this year, a maintenance facility for BOLDAviation opened at Indy South Greenwood Airport, allowing tenants and businesses to have work performed on-site instead of flying to other facilities, city officials said in a news release.
In a statement, Jason Newbold, the founder of BOLDAviation, said it made sense to build their facility in Greenwood.
“By offering our services here, we not only can grow our business but also keep more tenants and their tax dollars in Greenwood,” Newbold said. “With the recent expansion of our flight school, we are looking forward to continuing to train future pilots. It is a great feeling to support the local community, and help support growth at the Indy South Greenwood Airport.”
The city has also recently constructed and opened the EAA’s Aeronautical Center of Technology. City officials are also preparing to break ground on a ramp expansion project to be completed by 2024. These enhancements will accommodate additional educational space and corporate air traffic, city officials say.
As part of the Indiana Aviation honor, the association asked airport officials to pick a charity for the association to donate on their behalf. They chose to donate to the Aeronautical Center of Technology, Bart Giesler, executive director of Aviation Indiana, told the city council Wednesday night.
Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers told the city council he was proud of the airport’s growth over the last few years. The airport has grown continuously to make it an amazing place for young people to learn about aviation and earn their wings, he said.
“I’m very proud of them and thankful for them,” he said.
Myers also thanked council member Linda Gibson for her work to help grow and expand the airport.
Council president Mike Campbell said the airport has gone a long way since he was first elected to the city council.
“We’re proud of what (airport staff) accomplished,” Campbell said.
