Aviation View | Volume 2, Issue 1

98 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 Talladega Race Weekends.That has been a big part of our success and we continue to try and put our best foot forward in meeting the needs of these people.” Like all airports, infrastructure projects are ongoing. The runway was resurfaced in the last year, there is floodwater management to be done in the southwest quadrant, as well as the day-to-day upkeep and improvement of the property. Bennington points out that the airport authority likes to take a proactive stance, not just maintaining but looking for opportunities to improve. He notes, “We have a master plan which was completed in 2010 and that is utilized to put together the annual capital improvements plan. Then we update that plan, working with our consultants. The city has been very successful in obtaining grants from the FAA for several projects for the upkeep of the airport and for various other projects, such as creating a wildlife hazard mitigation management plan, which resulted in putting fencing into place.” most airports, there is a waiting list for hangars. Within the main terminal building, there is a pilots’ lounge that offers internet connectivity. The military traffic utilizes the airport because the city is home to the Anniston Ordnance Depot, which is the Army maintenance facility for most of its tracked vehicles. “We have a lot of corporate traffic because of our convenient location,” says Bennington, “and we handle a fair bit of freight as well, especially for industrial locations around us. For example, if an automotive plant needs parts, or something fixed, utilizing our airport they can bring parts in and out quickly. One of the things we focus on here, that has been very key to our success, is efficiency. That and proximity to industrial parks, and even to the Jacksonville State University, who use our airport for their sports teams to fly in and out of. We are 15 minutes from the City of Jacksonville, and so close to a lot of industrial centers. There is an airport in Talladega. Anniston serves as an airport for larger jets during