Photo above – Pictured from left to right is Kyle Wanner (Executive Director, ND Aeronautics Commission), Channing Wagner (DIK Airport Operations & Maintenance Manager), Laurie Kasian (DIK Airport Administrative Officer), and Ryan Riesinger (President of the North Dakota Airport Association)
Two North Dakota airports were recently recognized during the North Dakota Aviation Association’s FLY-ND Conference awards banquet on March 7th, 2023, by the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission and the Airport Association of North Dakota.
Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport in Dickinson was recognized as the “2022 Commercial Service Airport of the Year,” and Watford City Municipal Airport was recognized as the State’s “2022 General Aviation Airport of the Year.”
Airports receive these awards for excellence in community outreach, facility management, construction and beautification projects, and participation and hosting of special events. This award is sponsored annually by the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission in partnership with the Airport Association of North Dakota.
Airport Accomplishments for 2022:
The Dickinson Municipal Airport Authority has done tremendous work in reaching out to the community and hosting events throughout 2022. Over the past year, they invited multiple schools to tour the airport, and students from Kindergarten through High School were able to travel and see the world of aviation up close. Students from Scranton High School also had an opportunity to visit and job shadow airport employees for a full day. Additionally, the airport also worked to provide a wonderful experience for two families through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They provided a full V.I.P. treatment for the families, including curbside check in, full-service aircraft boarding, and Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting truck provided the aircraft with a water cannon salute on their departure.
Dickinson also experienced an impressive amount year-over-year passenger growth in 2022. The airport secured another 2-year contract with United Airlines to ensure the community continues to be provided two daily flights to Denver, CO. The airport closed out 2022 with 21,606 outbound, and 22,394 inbound passengers, a 24% increase from the previous year. These numbers have brought the airport very close to realizing a full recovery from pre-pandemic levels.
In 2022, Dickinson completed a multi-year reconstruction and expansion of their new primary runway. The runway added 900 ft., to a total length of 7,300 ft. The project also included the construction of a full-length taxiway, and installation of a new ILS system. This project overall took four years to finish, and the airport was able to stay fully operational throughout the entire construction period. This project ensures that current and future commercial aircraft will have a runway that meets all current FAA requirements. The new runway also has an increased weight bearing capacity, allowing larger aircraft to now operate without a waiver process.
In 2022, Watford City completed a major renovation project which was the culmination of approximately a decade of planning and hard work. Their runway underwent major reconstruction, and was shifted to a new location where its expanded final length is now 6,550 ft. The project also included a new lighting system, as well as a full-length parallel taxiway which will greatly enhance safety for all airport operations. These enhancements will now allow the community in the epicenter of Bakken to accommodate most large business jets. Overall, these infrastructural improvements are going to be critical in accommodating the growing needs of the Bakken and Watford City region.
Watford City Municipal Airport exceled in community outreach in 2022. They hosted an annual flyin/drive-in, coordinated with other local community events. Watford City also continually supports local weather modification and crop spraying operations to aid local farmers and protect agriculture. They also hosted an emergency air crash rescue training and Boy Scout merit badge events.
The airport also hosts a radar facility operated by the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. This work is innovating the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and building a new future for aviation, while researching ways to successfully integrate UAS into the National Airspace System.
