Gothenburg Airport receives award

Photo Courtesy of Gothenburg Airport Facebook Page

The Gothenburg Airport has been named 2012 "Airport of the Year" by the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics.

Airport Manager Dennis Brown says the award recognizes hard work.

"What it really amounts to is just recognition that we've done a lot of good work to get recognized by the state. And with that recognition of course we'll be in a better position to request state and federal money."

Brown says if and when the airport receives financial assistance they plan to make improvements to the current runways for the first time in more than 30 years.

"Well our runways and taxi ways are in pretty much state of disrepair. They're getting really rough and bad. We would also like to have a automated weather system here for the pilots. And we would like to have some approach lights or called VASI or PAPI. That would let the pilots have a better angle of approach."

Brown says it takes a year or so to obtain a grant.

Award nominators say the Airport, which flies all small planes and some helicopters, was recognized for regaining vitality after 15 years of deterioration.

Brown, his wife, and Airport Authority Board Member Rick Fiese received the award at a general airports conference in Kearney.

The Gothenburg Airport has been around for about 50 years, according to Brown.

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