Aviation View | Volume 2, Issue 1

117 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 LEWI STON-NEZ PERCE COUNTY A I RPORT This has changed the way Lewiston, a city of almost 35,000 people, handles its tourism and travel. The city traces its roots back to 1861 and the gold rush. It was the capital of Idaho when it first became a territory. Over the years the area has thrived on timber, agriculture, and paper, while also being home to the Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area. Lewiston is also important for the manufacturing of ammunition; the headquarters of ammunition makers CCI and Speer Bullet are both located in the city. Back in 1928, the Chamber of Commerce decided to build an airport, but it was not until 1942 that the first runway was put in and 1944 saw the beginning of commercial aviation. In 1969, the runway was lengthened to 6500 feet and jet service began. Today, the airport covers 865 acres at an elevation of 1,442 feet and has two asphalt runways: 8/26 is 6,511 by 150 feet and 12/30 is 5,002 by 75 feet. The Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport is jointly owned by the City of Lewiston and Nez Perce County and administered by a local airport authority. Approximately 80 percent of its focus is on general aviation with 115 aircraft based out of the airport. Hangars, as well as other facilities, are a mixture of built infrastructure and ground leases. Aviation-related businesses include Gustin Aviation, Life Flight, Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Air Posse, Lohman Helicopter, and Skelton Air. Two Fixed Base Operators provide the full slate of services – Hillcrest Aircraft Company, which is primarily focused on helicopters, and Frontier Aviation and Jet Center who are more focused on the agricultural and corporate side. Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport also operates a business park on the south corner of the field, where Seekins Precision, a firearm manufacturer, is an anchor tenant. “The cruise lines have increased our air traffic