Aviation View | Volume 2, Issue 2

27 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 Mena Inter S ituated in the midst of one of the best kept secrets in the U.S.– the Ouachita Mountains – the City of Mena, Arkansas is surrounded by natural beauty on all sides. The mountain range runs from east to west and the city is centrally located in the country, with convenient proximity to various metro hubs. Mena is also the county seat of Polk County. “We’re fairly close to Little Rock Arkansas, Dallas Texas, and Oklahoma City and Tulsa Oklahoma, but due to being located in the mountains we’re still considered isolated, which isn’t a problem for airplanes,” says Fred Ogden, Airport Manager at Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport (MEZ). Originally, MEZ evolved from a number of smaller airfields, but in 1948 the Civil Aviation Commission (now the FAA) established the airport. While in the past it had grass landing strips of around 3,000 feet, the airport now boasts two asphalt runways. Runway 17/35 runs north to south and is 5,000 by 75 feet, while Runway 9/27 runs east to west and is 5,500 by 100 feet. Runways 9/27 is equipped with an Instrument Landing System. Runway 17/35 offers an RNAV (GPS) approach. Both runways are served by full- length parallel taxiways. MEZ has close to 20 different businesses on the airfield that offer multiple services including: aircraft painting, airframe repair, a Certified engine repair station, and avionics work. These MUNICIPAL AIRPORT A Truly Full- Service Airfield