State transportation secretary likes what he sees at Northampton Airport

By OWEN BOSS

Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON - The state's Secretary of Transportation toured Northampton Airport Monday morning as part of an ongoing effort to visit all of the commonwealth's 39 privately owned airports.

As Northampton was the first stop on his statewide tour, Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey Mullan said he wasn't sure what to expect. But he said he left impressed with the facility's efforts to be energy efficient, as well as with its educational offerings.

"I'm trying to be active in the aviation community because that is a big part of the economy and a big part of the state's transportation picture," Mullan said. "I was impressed with the team they have there and that the training they do is focused on safety."

Leading Mullan's tour was the airport's owner, Robert Bacon, who made sure to point out the airport's youth aviation seminars, its flight school and the development of a new women in aviation program.

Following a walking tour, Mullan said he was impressed with renovations made to the airport last summer, including an expanded ramp, two new hangars and the installation of solar panels on the roof of the airport's community hangar.

The state Department of Transportation paid for about 80 percent of the renovation's cost, estimated at $340,000. The expanded ramp added more parking space for airplanes and repaired a taxiway that's almost 50 years old. The two new hangars each can hold up to five aircraft.

The use of solar panels to limit energy costs, Mullan said, is among the attributes he saw at Northampton Airport that he would like to see implemented at other privately owned, publicly used airports statewide.

"The investment in solar energy is something that we are seeing not just at airports but in building projects going up all over the state," Mullan said. "It is always good to get out here and talk to people so we can see what is working, what isn't, and try to use that information to make improvements elsewhere."

Rich MacIsaac, the airport's manager and chief flight instructor, said he though Mullan left with the desired impression of the Old Ferry Road airport.

"We wanted Secretary Mullan to see firsthand what an asset Northampton Airport is to the area," MacIsaac said. "It was the first time they've sent someone out and I think it was a great visit and hopefully he learned a lot from it."

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com