Kirk Griffin, manager of the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport, provided the program at our meeting last Wednesday.
The airport opened in 1943 and was initially used by the US Army Air Forces as a training base. After the war, it transitioned to civilian use.
The airport sees a significant amount of traffic all year, but especially during hunting and the summer camp seasons. That traffic translates to an economic impact of more than $38 million annually to the City of Kerrville and surrounding Hill County communities, according to the 2018 Texas Aviation Economic Impact Study released by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
Fifty four additional acres were recently purchased for future development of the airport. The land could be used for an extension of the main runway, helping with wet weather braking distances and accommodating larger aircraft. Discussions are ongoing with regional airlines to potentially bring commercial flights to Kerrville.
All the hangars at the airport are currently leased, and two more are under construction. That’s good news, as inquiries for hangar space are common.
To train new pilots, Schreiner University has partnered with the airport to offer an aviation program. Graduates will have earned a bachelor’s degree as well as their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private and Commercial pilot certificates with an instrument rating. They will also earn a multi-engine rating and a Flight Instructor certificate.
