Flying Club seeks better access to drive-thru gate

WORLAND — The Worland Flying Club requested access through the only drive-thru gate at the Worland Municipal Airport.

During the Worland City Council meeting Tuesday night, Bill Penning, club president, said the system would be better served if people were issued codes rather than cards. Cards cost about $70 and while a few of the 25 members have been granted cards, he would like everyone to have the opportunity.

Airport Manager Lynn Murdoch said the system that is about eight years old cannot have any additional cards entered. She said they tried to give people codes, but entering another card or a code, deletes someone else’s card due to the constraints of the system.

Pennington and club member Clinton Brookwell referenced systems in Salt Lake City and Billings that provide coded gate access so general aviation pilots can drive up to their aircrafts, load or unload, and then drive out of the airport.

Murdoch said they went with the cards because someone texted out their code number and there were people driving on taxi lanes and runways because they did not know where to go. Since the airport receives federal funding, Murdoch said the city must keep track of who has vehicles on the airport property, thus the gated system for vehicles.

She said each hangar

owner is granted two cards and some renters are given card access.

Each person issued a card must take a test before Murdoch authorizes the card.

Pennington noted he no longer had a card because he loaned his out and it was not returned.

Murdoch said that has happened with other people or people move away and do not return the cards.

She said a new system similar to the one in place costs about $10,000 but is not in the budget.

Council member Christy Schneider said the city should look at the budget to see if they can find the funding for a new system.

Murdoch said the current system is not connected to the internet and a code system to log in each time a person uses their code onto a computer system would be more expensive.

Brookwell and Pennington said the flying club is growing with Brookwell noting that flying is a “convenient way to get around.”

Pennington said the club is also looking at hosting a fly-in in June 2022 for general aviators with a pancake breakfast.

Mayor Jim Gill directed Murdoch to work with the club to come up with a solution for gate access.

In other business Tuesday, the council heard a report from Valerie Bjorhus of Sagebrush Sports, managing company of Green Hills Golf Course. She said in a recent survey 100% of the respondents were OK with a fee increase, and in favor of a payment plan option.

She said temporary greens will be created this fall for the front nine holes for players to play when there is no snow.