In 1985, the Board of Aviation Commissioners for the City of Warsaw assumed the responsibility of operating and maintaining the Warsaw Municipal Airport. All generated revenues from fuel sales, hangar rent, and land leases go to the Aviation general fund, which funds the airport's annual budget. With the realization that federal and state funding was becoming limited, except for major improvement projects, the need for local involvement became necessary.

 
The Airport Board, management and staff realize the lifeblood of Warsaw Municipal Airport are the corporate tenants on the field, with 95-percent of the airport’s revenue derived from fuel sales to these corporate flight departments. There is a close working relationship with each of the flight departments to make Warsaw Municipal Airport a community asset helping these corporations expand their businesses nationally and internationally, while also providing an excellent economic climate within our county.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Great effort goes into maintaining the ramp, terminal and terminal grounds to reflect a professional and friendly operation.  The line personnel are trained to park each arriving aircraft on the ramp and greet the passengers and crews in a welcoming and professional manner. The FBO offers two courtesy vehicles for short-term use by transient customers, saving them time and the expense of utilizing a paid livery or taxi service.  For those customers visiting for extended stays, the airport staff is ready to assist them by coordinating with local automobile rental agencies, caterers or other service providers to meet the needs of our visitors.

AVIATION EDUCATION

Warsaw Municipal Airport is always interested in heightening the public’s awareness of aviation. It coordinates closely with the local EAA Chapter, which hosts an annual Fly-In Pancake Breakfast each summer and Fly-In Fun Day each fall. Additionally, the airport provides the Chapter with a hangar at the nominal rental fee of $1 per year. This arrangement allows the Chapter a place to work on Kit Plane Projects, a location to hold training seminars, to host their Pancake Breakfast Fly-In, and raise funds through voluntary donations for hangaring transient aircraft.

The staff conducts frequent tours of the airport and its facilities for local schools, daycares, and any other organizations seeking an interesting field trip for its members and patrons. The staff has participated in several “Reading is Fundamental” programs at local elementary schools, reading aviation related books to the student groups.

Perhaps most important, Warsaw Municipal Airport is an enthusiastic supporter of Warsaw Community High School’s Cooperative Education Program. The airport’s current part-time line technician came to the airport through that program and is presently attending Purdue University with an Aviation Management major.

CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP / COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The airport has participated in Warsaw Community High School’s Senior Work Day, hosting student groups averaging 45 in number, providing these students an opportunity to give back to the community through policing airport grounds and washing airport vehicles.

Management has also acted as a liaison for several community groups to arrange and coordinate tours of some of the corporate flight operations on the field. The airport regularly makes Airport Memorial Park available to area neighborhood groups, civic organizations and private individuals for picnic gatherings at no charge.

SAFETY & SECURITY

The airport leadership is intently interested in enhancing the safety and security of Warsaw Municipal Airport, particularly since 9-11.  Access to Aircraft Operation Areas (AOAs) is closely monitored and access is limited to authorized employees and aircraft owners.  The airport is an active participant in the AOPA’s Airport Watch program.

An example of the continual effort to make Warsaw Municipal Airport as safe for aviation operations as possible is the airport’s participation in the AAI/Purdue University Wildlife Study. Warsaw Municipal Airport has made its facilities available and contributed significant resources to the project so that the best management practices can be put in place to minimize the negative effects Indiana’s wildlife has on aviation operations on and around the airport.  The board and management recently made the decision – at a substantial cost – to forego a significant portion of the airport’s revenue by halting all agricultural operations inside the airport’s perimeter fencing to reduce wildlife attractants such operation inherently entail.