Latest News
September 13, 2012
PORT OF KENNEWICK OFFICIALS OK $225,000 VISTA FIELD STUDY
Tri-City Herald
Port of Kennewick commissioners decided Tuesday to pay for a $225,000 study that will help determine the future of the Vista Field Airport. The commission unanimously chose to hire consultant Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. of Portland to look a...
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July 11, 2012
PORT OF KENNEWICK PLANS BIG STUDY ON VISTA FIELD'S FUTURE
Tri-City Herald
The Port of Kennewick plans to spend up to $225,000 on a new study to decide what to do with its Vista Field Airport. Port Executive Director Tim Arntzen admitted the price tag sounds costly, but he told commissioners they will get more specif...
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June 27, 2012
PORT OF KENNEWICK SAYS NO TO PROPOSAL FOR VISTA FIELD FIXED-BASE OPERATOR
Tri-City Herald
Some taxpayers asked for an independent review of Vista Field and Port of Kennewick commissioners are going to give them what they wanted. The commission asked port staff Tuesday to start the process of finding a firm to conduct a study on Vis...
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June 26, 2012
PUBLIC MAY GET TO VOTE ON VISTA FIELD'S FATE
Tri-City Herald
Port of Kennewick commissioners may allow the public to vote on whether they want to keep Vista Field open and if they want to pay for it.
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June 24, 2012
PORT OF KENNEWICK'S ATTEMPTS TO FIND VISTA FIELD MANAGER APPEAR BUSTED
Tri-City Herald
The Port of Kennewick's attempts to find someone to manage Vista Field appear to have fallen apart. On Tuesday, the port commission reportedly will consider rejecting Mike Shannon's proposal to be the airport's fixed-based operator...
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June 13, 2012
KENNEWICK'S VISTA FIELD WON'T BE START OF AIR RACE
Tri-City Herald
Kennewick's Vista Field won't be the start of an all-women's national air race after the Port of Kennewick questioned the legality of spending $25,000 for the event. At the same time, the port continues to struggle to reach an agreement...
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May 23, 2012
VISTA FIELD LEASE NEGOTIATIONS HIT SNAG
Tri-City Herald
Mike Shannon lambasted the Port of Kennewick on Tuesday for taking public the Vista Field Airport negotiations he thought
were confidential. Shannon, who has been negotiating with the port to take over running Vista Field as the fixed-based op...
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May 20, 2012
VISTA FIELD: KENNEWICK'S HIDDEN GEM
Tri-City Herald Editorial
In the question of what to do with Vista Field, the clear answer is to continue with the commitment that the port made in 2011 when it sought to bring a full-time Fixed Based Operator ("FBO") to the Airport. The fact that the original....
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May 20, 2012
VISTA: 10 REASONS TO STAY OPEN
Tri-City Herald Editorial
Vista Field should remain open for a wide variety of reasons. 1. All three port commissioners voted and committed to keep it open. 2. Cadwell Labs has invested more than $2 million on Vista Field based on that commitment and has increased it...
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September 28, 2011
PORT OF KENNEWICK CHOOSES MIKE SHANNON TO RUN VISTA FIELD
Tri-City Herald
Port of Kennewick commissioners believe they may have someone to take over Vista Field Airport as a fixed-based operator.
Commissioners on Tuesday directed port staff to begin negotiations with Mike Shannon, who would take over as the Vista Field fixed-based operator in January. They also decided to send rejection letters to two applicants for the fixed-based operator contract.
Shannon told commissioners at their Tuesday meeting that he wants to see the airport succeed by making customer service the No. 1 priority.
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March 2, 2011
APPROVAL OF MASTER PLAN GOOD NEWS FOR VISTA FIELD
Tri-City Herald Editorial Board
It took a year or two of work and a spirited election campaign to make way for it, but the Port of Kennewick finally has approved a master plan for Vista Field. It's a major improvement over the uncertainty that plagued Vista Field for years, and a major step toward realizing the little airport's potential.
The valuable location adjacent to the commercial center of the Tri-Cities had been lusted after by city officials and commercial interests, not for what it was but for what it could be.
Read more: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/03/02/1389312/approval-of-master-plan-good-news.html#ixzz1G4Yly07i
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February 23, 2011
PORT OF KENNEWICK OK'S PLAN FOR VISTA FIELD
Tri-City Herald
By Kathy Korengel, Herald staff writer
KENNEWICK -- Port of Kennewick commissioners unanimously approved an updated master plan for Vista Field on Tuesday with little discussion, apparently ending a long community discussion whether to keep the airport open.
The plan sets a blueprint for developing the airfield over the next 10 years and proposes about $600,000 in capital improvements in the next five years. Its first year also proposes developing six new hangars, improving related infrastructure and extending taxiways.
The port would spend $165,000 for infrastructure. The other estimated $1.4 million needed for the project is unfunded or would come from private developers.
The plan also proposes sealing and coating pavement on taxiways and aprons in the first year. The port has set aside about $18,000 for the work and plans to apply for a state grant to cover the other $140,000.
Read more: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/02/23/1379335/port-of-kennewick-oks-plan-for.html#ixzz1G4XP5eVl
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February 22, 2011
PORT PLANS IMPROVEMENTS AT KENNEWICK'S VISTA FIELD
Tri-City Herald
By Kathy Korengel, Herald staff writer
KENNEWICK-- Vista Field in Kennewick could be home to another 60 airplane hangars within the next 10 years. That's one of the scenarios that could play out if Port of Kennewick commissioners approve a proposed update of the field's master plan at a meeting today.
Read more: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/02/22/1377761/port-plans-improvements-at-kennewicks.html#ixzz1G4V58Ubq
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March 8, 2010
VISTA FIELD AIRPORT TO REMAIN OPEN!
At the conclusion of a public hearing on Monday, March 8, 2010, the Port of Kennewick’s three commissioners voted unanimously to
keep Vista Field Airport open. After more than three years of studies, meetings, and discussions the Commission made the right decision. According to a local news report about 130 people were in attendance and some 38 spoke. All but six were in favor of keeping the airport open. Some of those in attendance came from across the state to speak.
Thanks to all the individuals and organizations that worked to keep the airport open. A special thanks to the local chapter of the Washington Pilots Association, the state wide Washington Pilots Association, and the national Airplane Owners and Pilots Association. All three organizations were heavily involved in the effort to save Vista Field.
WHAT'S HAPPENED AND WHAT'S NEXT
What’s happened since the decision to keep the airport open? The Port of Kennewick has accomplished the following:
• Submitted a successful grant application to the State for funds to complete an Airport Master Plan. • Retained a consultant to do the work on the Airport Master Plan.• Formed a citizen Airport Advisory Committee to work with the Port and the consultant on the Master Plan.• Selected Jackson Flight Center LLC to be the interim Fixed Base Operator (FBO). The firm is temporarily located in a commercial hangar on the east side of the airport.• Completed a study done by a consultant regarding the FBO building and location. • Filled the existing empty hangars with tenants. All of the existing hangars are rented.What can we expect next?
• Complete the ongoing process of including the airport in the City of Kennewick Comprehensive Plan with appropriate zoning.• Begin the necessary steps to phase in the Master Plan improvements.• Explore the possibility of being included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) which is a requirement to be eligible for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants.• Seek out other State and Federal grant possibilities, perhaps in concert with the City of Kennewick.• Enhance the visual appeal of the airport, especially along Kellogg Street.• Establish airport signage that directs attention to the airport...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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