56°F
weather icon Clear
Boulder City, NV
Opinion

Come fly with me

G. Kevin Savord
G. Kevin Savord
More Stories
bcr default image
I’m a mean one, Mr. Grinch
bcr default image
The right to be heard
bcr default image
Voters to dive into ballot question next month
bcr default image
Festival epitomizes generous spirit
By G. Kevin Savord Boulder City Review
May 25, 2022 - 4:21 pm
 

Boulder City is rich with amenities; one of many is our public airport. Boulder City Municipal Airport dates back to the 1930s, when it was known as Bullock Airport or Bullock Field, with three runways located inside our township. (The old hangar is still standing at the airport’s former location).

Airline service began in 1936 with Grand Canyon Airways, and Trans World Airlines opened here in 1938. TWA operated several Douglas DC-3 aircraft in those years and often was seen piloted by Ernest K. Gann, an infamous pilot and author. One of Gann’s most respected novels was “The High and the Mighty,” written in 1953 and made into a movie in 1954 starring John Wayne.

TWA stopped operations in town in 1949, and the Elks lodge took over the terminal building in 1958.

As the town grew, it became necessary to relocate the airport. Today, the airport has two paved runways and plenty of tie-down space to park your airplane; it currently plays host to many private aircraft and several scenic airlines that operate both fixed-wing and helicopter operations. The airport is rich in times past and rich in times present as well. The aviation enthusiasts that base their aircraft here are nothing short of incredible.

Current airline pilots, former airline pilots, sport pilots and aircraft builders are just a short list of those participating in our airport community. When I learned to fly in Southern California in 1975, among the many places I enjoyed flying to were Henderson Airport and Boulder City Airport. In the ’70s and ’80s, both airports were small and quaint.

Boulder City Airport remains quaint and appealing, unlike Henderson, which can be very busy and now has a control tower. It is probably the best place to visit or learn to fly since it is not very busy and is away from the congestion of the often hectic Las Vegas area airports. If you have ever wanted to learn to fly conventional airplanes or helicopters or go for a ride, Boulder City is the place to be, and it sits in our very own backyard. The airport staff is friendly and accommodating.

Should you ever desire to take an airplane or helicopter ride, obtain a pilot license or pursue a career in aviation, contact me, and I’ll try to point you in the right direction.

The opinions expressed above belong solely to the author and do not represent the views of the Boulder City Review. They have been edited solely for grammar, spelling and style, and have not been checked for accuracy of the viewpoints.

G. Kevin Savord is currently a professional pilot and former small business owner. He can be reached at gksavord@gmail.com.

MOST READ
THE LATEST
bcr default image
I’m a mean one, Mr. Grinch
By Bill Evans Boulder City Review

It was Friday and I had been deeply involved for more than an hour in a discussion with the band’s new keyboard player sorting out who was playing what on each of the 25 or so songs for the unit’s first public gig coming up in just a bit more than five weeks after this issue hits the street. And I suddenly realized I was sitting in my garage with a guitar in my lap in the dark.

bcr default image
The right to be heard

I’m not here to tell you which candidates or ballot measures to vote for on Nov. 5.

bcr default image
Voters to dive into ballot question next month

It’s widely known that the existing Boulder City Municipal Pool is out of date with current building standards, inefficient and faces structural challenges in the coming years, if not sooner.

bcr default image
Festival epitomizes generous spirit

Fall officially arrived last month. That means its time for a long-time tradition for Boulder City residents: Art in the Park.

bcr default image
Simple acts of kindness go a long way
By Ron Eland Boulder City Review

I thought about the content of this column at around 2 a.m. I had woken up and for about an hour I wrote it in my head.

bcr default image
Vinyl put the magic in the music
By Bill Evans Boulder City Review

At some point last week (probably on Tuesday, which is typically our longest day here at the Review), as has happened many times before, I heard Ron say, “How about some music?”

bcr default image
The ins and outs of hiring a city manager
By Michael Mays Acting City Manager

It’s been four months since former City Manager Taylour Tedder left Boulder City to take a job in Delaware. Since his departure, I’ve been serving as acting city manager.

bcr default image
The Least of These
By Rod Woodbury

A good friend of mine recently told me about a sorry situation that he felt should never happen in Boulder City. An elderly man was discovered dead in his home. Authorities concluded he had passed away months before he was ever discovered. “How could that happen right under our noses?!” he exclaimed. “Not here. Not in Boulder City.”

bcr default image
Don’t mess with our pets

Last month, Boulder City Animal Control responded to a local resident who found an abandoned, critically injured 10-week-old puppy in an alleyway. The rottweiler-mix was immediately transported to the Boulder City Animal Hospital and treated for a dislocated jaw, eye and facial damage, and missing teeth. The puppy has undergone several surgical procedures, and one of his eyes had to be removed.