The Kern County Grand Jury issued a report Monday urging the Kern County Airports Department to improve some of the smaller county-owned airfields and to push for development of Meadows Field, Bakersfield’s commercial airport.
Kern County operates seven airports across Kern County including Meadows Field, Taft, Wasco, Lost Hills, Buttonwillow, Kern Valley Airport and Poso/Famoso Airport.
Meadows Field is the only commercial airport in the Kern County stable, with flights to San Francisco, Denver and Phoenix.
The runway, lighting systems and taxiways at the airport are being renovated or rebuilt using a $49.6 million Federal Aviation Administration grant and $4.9 million in matching county money.
The Grand Jury lauded the Kern County Airports Department for working to improve the airport and better the surrounding community by bringing in more users.
But they urged Airports Director Richard Strickland not to forget the other smaller airports, which are used by variety of private flyers and commercial skydiving and agriculture operations.
Strickland said all seven airports have development plans but implementing them has to be coordinated with limited financial resources.
“Revenues depend on use,” he said.
He pointed to Kern Valley Airport which is in the midst of a major renovation project.
“We’re going to be putting in a brand-new full-length taxiway,” he said. “The Kern Valley Airport is an absolute gem.”
Meadows Field and Kern Valley are tops on the county’s list.
“They’re the two most beneficial airports to Kern County,” Strickland said.
Kern Valley is heavily used by recreational visitors. And, when a large fire or disaster hits, the airport becomes critical to emergency operations.
November 27, 2017
The Bakersfield Californian
By James Burger
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