Aviation simulators may become part of collaboration with Motlow

Upper Cumberland Regional Board of Director discuss numerous topics, including cracks on the runway.

In the coming years, aviation training in the Upper Cumberland could see some big changes.

During the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport’s board meeting, on Aug. 12, airport manager Dean Selby reported on an aviation meeting with Motlow. There are some real interests in getting full motion aviation simulators at various airports, and Upper Cumberland Regional is one that could be targeted should they pursue it. Lowering the barrier to entry in a job market needing more pilots every day, Selby believes it is an initiative they will have to keep their eye on as more information comes.

After three days of closure during the month, the airport was able to get some Class 2 cracks repaired on their runway. There were various explanations that could explain how those cracks formed, and Selby tried to give a few that were offered.

“I’ve heard different concepts of why we’ve had these cracks,” he said. “One of the reasons floating around is more traffic - more volume, heavier traffic, and heavier aircrafts.”

The airport’s fuel sales were down a bit from the prior month because of three days of closure as well.

Leading from this, Selby also said that on Aug. 24, a group with the state would come to check the runway and assure its quality. It is a part of an initiative to check some of the larger airports to see what is underneath the runway as a safety precaution. This will not result in a full closure of the runway like the crack repairs, but there will be nighttime closure on the 24th.

The Emergency Preparedness Expo is coming up Sept. 13. Selby was proud to share that the number of agencies attending has reached around 80. They even have departments from Nashville that have offered to send teams.

The airport was also happy to confirm the Huddleston North End Hangar and Meadows Connect Hold Hangar are at the final stages before completion. They are “basically finished,” but have a few more housekeeping details to go over before being officially finalized.