Lincoln Airport potential underscored by grant announcement on heels of open house, barbecue

In a press release late Monday afternoon, Sen. Steve Daines announced more than $20 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation for improvements to airports throughout the state.

The announcement included a $95,400 grant for construction of a taxiway at the Lincoln Airport.

"This funding will help bring our state's infrastructure to the 21st century, and as a result will boost tourism, create jobs, and encourage visitors from around the nation to come see the treasures our great state has to offer," Daines said.

Daines' comments echo the potential benefits Jerry Cain sees for the community in the Lincoln Airport. To highlight the airport, he's been hosting a community open house and barbecue for the past few years in hopes of showing locals that Lincoln has one of the best small airports in the state.

This year's open house, held Saturday, July 28, didn't draw quite as many locals as he hoped for, but overall Cain said it was a good crowd, with about 100 guests, including the pilots of the 20 or so aircraft that flew in for the event.

Jeremy Goulet, the Montana Aeronautics Division's Safety and Education Bureau chief, was also happy with the turnout.

"I think it's good. We want to get more people involved in aviation and using the airport, and having the campground down there at the end seems to be a positive. Just getting more use is a good thing," he said.

Like Cain, Goulet sees the potential the airport holds for Lincoln, whether it's from tourism, education or simply public safety.

He said business travelers often travel by airplane and use small airports like Lincoln for visits. Likewise, he said it could also serve as a drop off point for people planning to head into the wilderness for a backcountry adventure.

"I think we'd like to see more of that stuff for sure," he said. "I don't think it's fully utilized for that."

Goulet said he was glad to see the U.S. Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles at the Open house. Tiana Valler helped to bring the program to Lincoln last year, and Goulet said there will be a lot of future opportunity waiting for kids who are willing to learn to fly.

He explained that United Airlines is losing 500-800 pilots every year to retirement. Within 20 years, all 12,000 pilots currently working for United will have retired. "And that's just one airline," he said.

Cain, who promotes the Lincoln Airport every chance he gets, said everybody seemed to enjoy this year's open house. "Everybody wants to do it again, so it'll be the fourth Saturday of July next year, which will be July 27," he said.