A Deeper Look Inside Vista Field...
A Short History of Vista Field as We Know It
In 1942 the Kennewick Irrigation District (KID) acquired land in the area of what is now Vista Airfield. In that same year the KID transferred some of the land to the City of Kennewick for a municipal airport. The United States government acquired the property for national purposes. The U.S. Navy used the site for an auxiliary airfield during World War II. The main naval air training facility was in Pasco at what is now the Tri-City Regional Airport. After the war, the City reacquired the Vista Airfield and operated it until it was sold to the Port of Kennewick in 1991. The Port has operated the airport ever since.
The Politics
In the early ‘70s the City wanted to close the airport. Airport users convinced the City to hold an advisory vote on the issue. City voters overwhelmingly voted to keep the airport. Since that time the City created a Kennewick Public Facilities District to construct and operate a convention center in the Vista Field area. The City now has a “vision” of this area being an entertainment district and is applying immense pressure on the Port to close the airport.
An Alternative Vision
Businesses have located at the airport and represent some 300 family wage jobs that would be put at risk if the airport closed. More businesses would come to the airport if the airport permanency were once and forever resolved. Carl Cadwell of Cadwell Laboratories which is located at Vista Field, has stepped forward with an offer to invest ten million dollars over a ten year period to improve and expand facilities such as new building for a fixed base operator, new hangars, and the like. All of these improvements would be “inside the fence” and are part of the Port’s comprehensive scheme for the airport. It would be a matter of securing the building permits from the City. Further developments by private developers outside the fence would be handled on a case by case basis as would be done for any development within the City.
About Vista Field
Vista Field is centrally located in the Tri-City area. It is located in a mixed use area with hotels, restaurants, entertainment, business, and industry. A unique feature is that many of these facilities are within walking distance of the airport.
Airports can be described by their classifications. Vista Field, like Richland, is considered a community service airport and serves business and industry. On the other hand, airports such as Pasco and SeaTac, are considered commercial service airports because they have scheduled airline service. Vista Field is used by General Aviation, which refers to all civilian flying other than scheduled airline service. General Aviation covers a wide range of activities, both private and commercial, including business aviation, law enforcement, medical, flight training, air charter, recreational and many others.
Vista Field is an important and valuable community asset. Its central location is attractive to business. It provides quick and convenient access to nearby businesses and industries, as well as local hotels and restaurants. It supports local economic growth, the kind that produces good family wage jobs.
Washington State has completed a Long-Term Air Transportation Study (LATS). The study has identified the Tri-City area as one of four Special Emphasis Regions that will exceed airport capacity in the near future. It found that the Tri-Cities Airport/Pasco is the third busiest commercial airport in the state. A loss of Vista Field will further impact Pasco. Vista Field serves as a reliever for Pasco.
So how is Vista Field Used?
The average citizen is unaware that there are many types of operations that take place at a small community airport. The following are some of the operations that take place at Vista Field:
• Business Meetings-(2/3 of all hours flown by GA aircraft are for business purposes—GAMA, 2007)• Pilot Training (Civilian flight schools train new airline pilots)• Law Enforcement --Washington State Patrol/Benton County Sheriff• Fly to Shop--Costco, the Mall• Charity Flights/Fundraising• Conference DestinationsHealth and Medicine:
To transport:• Medicines• Surgeons & Specialists• Special needs Patients• Medical Isotopes• Medical EquipmentAgriculture:
• To service nearby agricultural fields• Bring in supplies• Transport buyers & sellersDelivery Service:
Out of 138 Washington Airports, UPS makes Vista one of only 18 with mail/delivery service.Personal Air Transportation:
• Fuel sales• Maintenance services• Overnight stays• Food sales• Entertainment• ShoppingA Look to the Future:
The State’s Long-Term Air Transportation Study (LATS) study shows a definite need for retaining and enhancing airports. The General Aviation industry is recognizing a market for two new types of aircraft. One is the Very Light Jet (VLJ) and the other is the Light Sport Aircraft. The two types serve very different purposes.
As commercial airline travel becomes increasingly more inconvenient because of increased security and airline cutbacks, many businesses are looking at alternatives. The VLJ represents such an alternative. The VLJ is a small high performance jet aircraft with a passenger seating of four to six people. The VLJ design is capable of using airports such as Vista Field. There are over 5000 airports in the United States, yet the airliners use only a few hundred of them. The VLJ opens up travel to most of the 5000.
The Light Sport Aircraft is intended for recreational flying and has less demanding training requirements. It is a more economical way for people young and old to enjoy the flying experience. There is a growing interest in this type of aircraft across the United States.
What Does Vista Field Need?
Most important is for the owner of Vista Field, the Port of Kennewick, to remove the uncertainty about the airport’s future. The Port must announce that it will keep the airport open and further, that it will enhance the airport facilities. The Port has in place the necessary comprehensive plan for development inside the fenced boundary of the airport. No additional planning or studies are needed. The Port needs to enter into long term leases to facilitate and encourage private development in airport infrastructure.
Carl Cadwell, owner of Cadwell Laboratories, has publicly offered to invest $10 million over a ten year period to construct a new terminal , hangars, maintenance facility, and other airport improvements.
What Should Kennewick Citizens Do?
• Talk to your council person. A list of the current council persons appears elsewhere at this web site. Ask if they support keeping the airport open. All seven council members have publicly supported closing the airport. Five council positions are up for election this fall. Consider supporting candidates that are in favor of keeping the airport open.
• Solicit, encourage, and support companies who use aviation as an integral part of their operations.
• Promote Vista Field as the unique airport that it is: Central to the Tri-Cities and close to shopping, restaurants, hotels, and entertainment, with quick and easy access for local business and industry.
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