The DeQuincy Industrial Airpark has been recently featured in Business View Magazine.
The Feature is based on an interview between Airport Manager, Kyle Rainwater and Business View Magazine’s Chief Editor, Karen Surca; as part of our series covering economic growth and best city practices.
Business View Magazine is a global leader in multi-platform Business to Business profiles, news and opinion with over 840,000 executive subscribers across North America. To learn more and view a current issue, visit www.businessviewmagazine.com.
Flying High through 2023 and Beyond
Business View Magazine interviewed representatives of DeQuincy Industrial Airpark for their focus on Economic Development in U.S. Towns & Cities
A Gateway to Economic Development in Calcasieu Parish
For DeQuincy Industrial Airpark, it is not just about planes, it’s about potential. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a vibrant region rich with growth and opportunities, this airport has its ambitious plans for progress. Boasting a fleet of 19 aircraft, with ample available land for development, this airpark is preparing for an economic lift-off in Louisiana’s skies.
With a progressive growth plan, Airport Manager, Kyle Rainwater, describes the airport’s current situation. He says, “We get GA (General Aviation), corporate, and a small amount of military traffic who come here to do some maneuvers and different training. But mostly, as of now, we are more like a gas station. We’ve got some pretty cheap fuel here, and it is mostly GA that comes in for that. I get a handful of business jets that come in throughout the year for different types of meetings at a couple of the industries close to the airport here.”
With an eye to the future, he outlines a few initiatives aimed at fueling the airport’s forward-thinking vision. One is the development of a new land lease program, opening up the area for private investment, and generating revenue for the facility. “There’s plenty of opportunity for people to get pieces of property here if they want to build their hangar to store their aircraft,” Rainwater acknowledges. “We don’t have those means at the city and the airport. So, if we can open up that opportunity for people to do that themselves, it benefits them in the long run. They’ve got a hangar for a lot cheaper. After the initial investment, they don’t have to put up as much money every month to keep that property.”
Other initiatives include the application of a seal coat on the airfield, bringing new life to the airport.
“That seal coat project makes it look brand new,” boasts Rainwater. “As asphalt ages it kind of shrinks and cracks and just looks bad. So, every so many years you can come in and do a crack seal and sealcoat.” In addition, he says lighting will be replaced on the taxiway, contributing to the airport’s renewal.
Despite encountering some setbacks with initial plans, DeQuincy Industrial Airpark remains committed to improving its terminal and other offerings for clients. Although the original concept involving an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) partnership with the sheriff’s office did not materialize, Rainwater notes that funds are still available for the construction of a fully functional terminal. “It’s going to be smaller than the EOC, but it is going to be a nice normal terminal for a GA airport like this. We’re trying to bring that to the session with the capital outlay with the state,” he explains. “Then we have ten new T hangars in that, for the session as well. So hopefully, we can get both of those funded in the next few months.”
Operated by the city of DeQuincy, Rainwater says there is an Airframe and Powerplant (A & P) mechanic based on the field to help if a situation arises. “He’s pretty booked up with clients, but he is available for emergency-type things. We can give him a call and get him out here for emergencies,” he notes. “If somebody can’t leave until something is looked at by an A & P, we do have that on the field. So that is a great benefit.”
Educating the Future
One possibility for DeQuincy Industrial Airpark is the introduction of a flight school. Rainwater says discussions with Rock Solid Aviation are underway, as they look to expand into the area.
Collaborations with organizations such as the Louisiana Airport Managers and Associates group, are helping to spearhead initiatives focused on partnering with schools across the state, particularly those with existing aviation programs, such as Maxwell, Lake Charles, and LSU Alexandria. By bringing students to the airfield and exposing them to aviation opportunities, the hope is to inspire an interest in the field, helping to address the shortage of pilots and professionals.
Rainwater himself is also on the Chennault International Airshow Board of Directors, where scholarships are awarded biennially to support aspiring aviators. “I’m involved in trying to get in within the schools. I’m a pilot myself, so I see that shortage. I’m a firm believer that that shortage comes from people not getting out and showing kids that there are plenty of opportunities in aviation,” he asserts.
To read the rest of this story, please see page two of the print edition of The DeQuincy News.
