Making this all happen, Airport manager Brian Fornwalt is as committed to his job running the dynamic airport as the passengers are to enjoying everything the airport has to offer. “We have commercial service to Denver with Sky West Regional, coming through United Airlines and we also have GA and we have local traffic as well,” Fornwalt describes, when asked to outline the operational capacity of his airport. “We get flights in from everywhere, so it is anybody that comes in and out all the time,” he adds. “We also cater to medevac flights and UPS lands every once in a while.” Another key aviation component is the frequency of corporate flights that land at Liberal Mid America Regional Airport that are traveling through the area. The region surrounding the airport is home to largersized industrial companies who use the airport when conducting business in the area. With the mix of aviation traffic utilizing the airport, it is no wonder that Fornwalt is hard at work ensuring that key projects are given priority and that safety measures are up to date. Efficiency is paramount, and as Fornwalt notes, all of this needs to fall under the budget allocated to the airport. “Our numbers this year have increased. The flights have stayed the same, but our numbers flying out have increased this year,” Fornwalt determines. “Percentage-wise I would say we are maybe up 10% over last year.” TRAINING TALENT FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE CHALLENGES Top of the mind for Fornwalt, as is the case with many of his cohorts around the country, is the need to take the steps to engage youth in the prospect of aviation as a future career pursuit. With an ongoing pilot shortage and an equal need for flight engineers, A&P professionals, and maintenance crew, Fornwalt plays his part in helping steer things in the right direction. 85 AVIATION VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 04, ISSUE 04 LIBERAL MID-AMERICA REGIONAL AIRPORT
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