b'54 GWS GENERAL AVIATION a high schooler, Helm worked weekends at GWS pumping fuelIn 2020, Helm and her husband moved to his native New and monitoring the windsock for incoming pilots. After securingZealand, and the city assumed management of the airport. her pilots license at age 19, she also became a certificatedThe part-time manager it eventually hired left in 2022 after aircraft mechanic, turned a wrench at GWS and then worked as10 months on the job, transferring day-to-day responsibilities a helicopter mechanic in Alaska for three years. After returningfor GWS back to the city. Meanwhile, city leaders were still to GWS, she was encouraged to apply for the airport managercontemplating whether to keep the airport as-is or develop the job being vacated by Weinberg and succeeded in getting hired.land for other purposes. After taking the reins, she quickly encountered multiple challenges. The biggest at first was just trying to plan forLightbulb Momentthe future, she reflects. City council and city managementA new and novel idea for managing the airport emerged when wanted to close the airport to build anything but an airport. IGWS again faced potential closure about four years ago. was constantly trying to convey the importance of having ourWussow (then a council member rather than mayor) recalls airport.that the city didnt have anything specific planned for the airport, Helms passion for GWS inspired her to create events tobut she knew some people wanted to use the land for housing showcase what the airport does for the community and region.and retail development. Wussow did not agree in the least. For The first Aviation Expo in 2017 was a free community eventa town of 10,000 people, to have a municipal airport is quite highlighting the many uses and benefits of general aviationsomething, she explains.and included a static aircraft display, Young Eagles Rides, andHer lightbulb moment came after a contentious meeting aviation-themed booths and vendors. Although it was deemed abetween the airport commission and city council in 2021. The success, the city still pressed ahead with a state-funded Airportstrife led her to ask the city attorney if the city could lease the Property Scenario Planning study to determine the best use ofairport to a nonprofit entity. Nonprofits allow people to invest in airport property.things, so why couldnt we have that? she wondered, adding When theres a lot on the linePaint equipment built to optimize time, money, and safety. Marks up to 36 wide in a single passAccommodate multiple additional guns to be able to paint patterns and colors in a single passExclusive use of latex paint, creating less runway debrisContract #080521-EZL1920 Albany Place SEOrange City, IA, 51041(800) 373-4016sales@ezlinerarrow.comezlinerarrow.comJanuary | February 2025AirportImprovement.com'