On the south edge of Alva is somewhat hidden local treasure. Most people drive by the location without a second glance. It appears the Alva Regional Airport is just a collection of buildings with an occasional aircraft spotted in the tie-down parking area. But the local airport is the home base for upward of three dozen aircraft and houses a unique museum detailing the airport's history.

The 5,000-foot runway is suitable for small jet aircraft as well as twin and single-engine planes. On Wednesday, Airport Manager Derrick Courson said Williams Electric had just left after putting the finishing touch on the runway light installation. The airport is fully ready for night landings.

In recent years, the airport has become a convenient landing and refueling point for transient aircraft. Getting on the CAA (Corporate Aircraft Association) preferred list has steered growing numbers of jet aircraft to stop and purchase fuel in Alva. Their glowing reviews bring even more traffic.

With ideas from Courson and the Alva Airport Commission, the airport continues to upgrade services for pilots. The next project is an above-ground fuel storage tank for Jet-A fuel. This will allow the airport to store a larger supply of the fuel, and it will also add the ability for pilots to refuel their own jet aircraft at night using a new self-service feature. As with the current self-service for regular avgas, it will include a pay-at-the-pump credit card reader.

The airport offers other amenities for pilots and passengers such as clean restrooms, a pilot's lounge where everyone can relax and check weather reports, and a selection of snacks in the lobby area. The airport has courtesy cars for pilots to use free in the local area including a van for larger groups. This allows visitors to head downtown to eat or shop.

The airport is also unique in that it is self-supporting. Land owned by the airport and not being used for runways and buildings is leased for agricultural use. The sale of fuel brings in revenue. An oil and gas lease also provides some income. The airport makes good use of state and federal grants to continue to modernize and improve the facility.

Airport Museum

While all these services don't mean much to those not involved in aviation, the airport terminal also houses a museum. During regular hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m.), visitors can look through displays of miscellaneous old aircraft parts, newspaper clippings, photographs and more.

There are photo from the 1940s showing pilots doing military training at a nearby private airstrip. There's a row of old aircraft seats to try out. Names on metal strips list members of Alva aircraft owners from earlier years. Newer displays include a wall of shirt-tails or entire shirts signed by new pilots who just soloed (flying alone for the first time without an instructor).

Two framed prints detail the early history of the Alva Municipal Airport, later renamed the Alva Regional Airport. On Dec. 11, 1944, the voters of Alva approved a $50,000 bond issue to acquire and improve a city-owned airport. In September 1945, August Peterman sold Section 36 to the city for $30,000 retaining for him the right of first refusal to purchase the land at any time the city did not need it. This land was located on the east side of US-281 where the VIP Supper Club was later located.

A north-south sod unlighted runway was built on the property. In 1946 the aviation committee of the city council was authorized to make necessary improvements to qualify the airport for GI training (a veterans' benefit program). Specific items needed were an administration building, restrooms and a telephone. Members of that committee were Chairman W.E. Hackett Jr., Howard Arnett and Cecil Wilhite. Tom Keltch was the city manager and F.B.H. Spellman was city attorney.

In September 1946, it was learned the Prisoner of War property (located on the west side of the highway) might be obtained for use by the city. In December 1946, the city council authorized that purchase. The original property was sold back to August Peterman.

The building of the airport was started in 1948 with a 50 by 2400 foot lighted hard-surface runway, an administration building, a hangar-shop building and hard-surfaced taxiways and parking ramps. Bids for the original hangar were accepted in September 1948 for $17,150. The building was shipped to Alva in September of 1949.

In December of 1948 bids were accepted from Rose Brothers Construction Co. to build the administration building. The bid was $22,500.

In 1960, the north-south runway was extended to 3400 feet and a clear zone north of the runway was obtained from George Murray to meet requirements that would facilitate later improvements to the airport.

In 1968, the runway was widened to 75 feet and lengthened to 4100 feet. At that time a new runway lighting system was installed, a clear zone to the south was obtained, and the runway was declared capable of handling "small jet" aircraft.

Marione Martin

While many small airports have bland, boring waiting areas, Alva's airport features comfortable seating, snacks and interesting displays detailing the history of aviation in the community.

These are just a few of the historical facts detailed in the framed documents at the airport. If you're interested in learning more about Alva's history, the airport museum is a good place to start.