Messenger named FBO

Nate Messenger was named Airport Manager on Oct. 13, starting a contract that will last until June 30, 2020. Messenger was present at the final County Commissioners meetings about the airport and was able to provide valuable feedback about the final stages of airport construction and design.

Messenger, who served six years in the Navy as an in-flight mechanic on a P-3 Orion aircraft, has been working as a mechanic on Life Flight air ambulance helicopters at Classic Air Medical in Riverton since.

Messenger entered a bid to become the new airport manager shortly before he was appointed in mid-October. He applied to be closer to home and take the helm at the recently opened airport.

The new manager says his daily duties start with a patrol of the runway, making sure the numerous runway lights work, and making sure fuel remains contaminant free.

Since final preparations are still underway, Messenger is still setting up the airport’s shop area, and soon will have to plow snow from the runway if it accumulates to over two inches. So far, after the first two snowfalls of the year, the runway has not needed to be plowed.

Messenger started working at the airport on Oct. 19, when inspectors from the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration performed inspections on the progress of the airport. During this time, Messenger, who has never been an airport manager before, learned how to work runway lights and other crucial airport systems.

Messenger, who is contracted to work 40 hours a week, said that the new airport was, “good for the community,” because of new systems installed to support more advanced aircraft. According to Messenger, the systems will help with the air ambulance, and the yet-to-be-installed Global Positioning System will aid aircraft landing on the runway that do not rely on eyesight only.

The newly appointed manager noted that the old airport also lacked an approach and a weather station, which were a “big drawback” for the soon to be decommissioned airport.