Published: April 14, 2008 11:03 pm         

Airport, director lauded by state airport association

Enid Woodring Regional Airport was named Airport of the Year and Aviation Director Don Cornell was named Airport Director of the Year by Oklahoma Airport Operators Association and South Central Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives.

The awards were announced recently at Tulsa International Airport. Cornell was presented the awards at Monday’s Rotary Club meeting by Victor Bird, director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. Bird was guest speaker at the meeting

In accepting the awards, Cornell said the city of Enid always has been supportive of airport initiatives and always has cooperated with improvement plans. He also credited airport staff with assisting him.

He said he believes Woodring is vitally important to the economic growth of the city.

Woodring is an active general aviation airport serving businesses like Groendyke Transport, Continental Resources, Ward Petroleum, Johnston’s Grain Co. and Atwoods, as well as a cross-section of other Enid businesses. Vance Air Force Base also uses Woodring as part of its pilot training program and frequently bases aircraft there on weekends.

Woodring also hosts monthly fly-ins. There are 80 aircraft based at Woodring.

Cornell has been director of aviation since 1997 and previously was OAOA northwest regional director. He obtained Federal Aviation Administration grants and oversaw a recent $8 million renovation project that reconstructed the main runway and taxi way. Cornell has 37 years experience in the aviation industry.

OAOA, founded in 1984, is comprised of airport management professionals and has a goal of enhancing and improving the approximate 114 airports in the state airport system.