Planes and popularity soar at Cherokee airport

The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce recently held a behind-the-scenes tour at the Cherokee Regional Airport.

The tour was led by Kellen Ludvigson, a local pilot who serves as chairman of the Cherokee Airport Authority. Joining him were Rick Angell and airport manager Savannah Nelson.

Nelson, a Cushing native, accepted the position last spring. She developed an interest in aviation while serving in the U.S. Army and working on helicopters. She is an A&P mechanic looking to grow her business in repair service while fulfilling the airport’s needs.

Ludvigson described many of the large projects that have recently been completed by the airport including an updated hangar with ramp access and a nearly $866,000 parallel taxiway. The hangar is not only used for the annual flight breakfast fundraiser but is insulated with new windows, allowing for work to continue in winter months. The airport is funded by the City of Cherokee and Cherokee County and also receives funds from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“Many small airports are struggling, but we are very lucky,” Ludvigson said. “We currently have at least six student pilots out of this airport. We’re growing. These small airports are important because they help keep the others open.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses and people were looking for alternatives to commercial travel. A small airport, such as in Cherokee, proved advantageous for large businesses and their workers. After the pandemic, the efficiency of private travel continued for many of those businesses, which keeps a facility like Cherokee busy. Ludvigson noted that the airport here has seen a significant increase in traffic, around 400%, in the last three years and laughingly added “you never know who could be stopping in here.” He also added that the airport is an additional draw for business and travel to Cherokee.

One way the airport encourages stops and visitors is by keeping their fuel prices low. “If we’re not the lowest, we’re darn close,” said Ludvigson. These lower prices, as well as the self-serve fuel station on the grounds, draw in large numbers of crop duster pilots and private planes passing through. A courtesy car is available to bring any visitors into town for shopping or dining. The facility also boasts a comfortable pilot’s lounge where a pilot can rest or relax while waiting for clients and departure times. Ludvigson added that “We have a lot of repeat customers from pilots who remember good service and cheap fuel. And they make recommendations to others too.”

The airport continues to plan new improvement projects and find ways to grow. The parallel taxiway project was funded 90% by the FAA and they are fortunate to receive additional funds from that organization for various projects. The new taxiway increases the safety and efficiency of the airport. Ludvigson mentioned that in 2022 they installed taxi-way lights to further enhance safety for night operations. Currently, the airport has pilot-controlled lights that operate on a frequency reachable within a specific distance allowing pilots to turn the runway lights on while in the air. The airport also recently replaced the lighted wind cone and is in the process of replacing the automated weather observation station. Anyone may call the station to get information on current area weather at 712-225-1088.

Cherokee’s airport also offers flight training opportunities. There are currently 10 to 15 active flyers regularly operating out of the facility, not counting students. Flight lessons are available for anyone who is looking to pursue their private pilot’s certificate. The program requires 40 hours flight instruction time, ground instruction time, and both health and written exams. Although Cherokee does not have a rental plane available for lessons, that may be something the facility considers in the future. Ludvigson said, “The Cherokee airport tries to make it more affordable to obtain your private license, but the cost depends a lot on the type of plane you purchase.”