Aviation Indiana has named the Plymouth Municipal Airport the Indiana Airport of the Year for 2019. The award was presented to Mayor Mark Senter and Airport Manager Bill Sheley on Wednesday evening at the Aviation Indiana annual conference and awards banquet in Michigan City.
Aviation Indiana is the State’s leading aviation trade association. Since 1983, the organization has provided advocacy, education, and networking opportunities for a diverse membership including general aviation, support industries, aerospace educators, airports, fixed base operators, aircraft owners and operators, and pilots at all rating levels. Aviation Indiana has presented the prestigious award since 2004, with airports such as Indianapolis Executive Airport, Columbus Municipal Airport, and Terre Haute Regional Airport among the past winners. Plymouth Municipal Airport was recognized for the dramatic growth it’s experienced in recent years.
Mayor Mark Senter said, “I’m so proud of our City and all the hard work we’ve put into our local airport.” “The strategic investments we’ve made in the facility in the past few years, from runway and taxiway rehabilitation to hangar and building improvements, are really beginning to pay dividends; and I can’t say enough about the leadership of Airport Manager Billy Sheley,” the Mayor also stated. 2018 and 2019 saw many significant developments at the airport, including the construction of the airport’s first private hangar, major renovations to the terminal building and the airport fuel farm, the addition of the Culver Summer Schools and Camps summer aviation program, the relocation of Michiana Aircraft Services, Inc.’s maintenance shop from the South Bend airport to Plymouth, the startup of the AlphaFlight, LLC flight instruction business, the creation of the high school flight instruction and airport operations program in association with Plymouth High School’s career and technical education efforts and the North Central Area Vocational Cooperative, and much more.
“The airport is a vibrant hub of activity these days and it’s ripe for even more growth,” said Airport Manager Bill Sheley. “We’ve recently doubled the number of aircraft based at the airport, seen record fuel sales, and welcome new visitors to the Plymouth and Marshall County community on a daily basis,” Sheley also stated. Mayor Senter concluded by thanking Aviation Indiana for this honor, noting that “the Plymouth Municipal Airport is such a dynamic place and a true economic engine for our region.”
