b'86 FSMRUNWAYSour airport more attractive to foreign countries wanting to train their pilots.Crews finished installing the cables in August 2024, and the first international pilots, from Poland, started training at FSM in December 2024. Currently, there are four F-35s based at the airport, housed in both temporary and permanent hangars. Eventually, there may be as many as 36 jets, including twodozen F-35s. Having these pilots here does boost the local economy, Griffin reports. They typically stay in Fort Smith from nine to12 months, and, of course, spend money in the area while they Temporary power was provided to NAVAID shelters during construction.are here.With the extra runway work complete, Griffin anticipates a Soon, however, the Air Force announced that it wanted barriergood year. We expect to have more countries sending their arresting cables at both ends of the newly extended runway. Itpilots here for extensive training in 2025 and in the years to funded the addition to enhance F-35 training exercises. FSMcome, he says. managed the design work, again contracting with Halff as the primary engineering consultant, and ultimately executed the project.According to a report in the Air Force Times, Ebbing is expected to graduate four pilots this year, and then grow that With installation beginning in December 2023, the timing wasnumber to about three dozen graduates per year through the end somewhat frustrating for the airport. We had just finished ourof the decade. runway extension, and three months later we had to shorten it again (this time to 6,800 feet) for the arresting cables, GriffinEditors Note: Just before this issue went to press, Michael relates. We knew that in the long term, though, this would makeGriffin resigned as director of Fort Smith Regional Airport, and his successor had not yet been announced. IS YOUR BUSINESS IMAGEEVERYTHING IT COULD BE?Elevating aviation, together.Faster, Greener, Cleaner The Cyclone DifferenceFaster!Within the Cyclone head, up to 24 sapphire-tipped spray les, mounted to high sped rotating arms, blast the surface with noz ure water in a swirling vortex at 140 mphequivalent to a category 4 cyclone. As the surface is being cleaned, and deposits removed, ultra-high presthe multi-patented Cyclone simultaneously recovers the waste waterwith no vacuum.Greener!Cyclone Technologys advanced design utilizes up to 50% les fresh water with 20% lower fuel consumption while 95% of wastewater is recovered instantly. The on-board waste tank separates solid waste through a 160 micron biodegradable liner. The entire process uses only fresh waterno chemicals!ure water blastingBefore and After. CY210 is The combination of ultra-high preswith the Cyclone vortex provides exceptional cleaning while causingshown in this ilustration. Cleaner!no damage to your surface.CY210 Behind for areas requiringeithWalk- R50 verabilit s. y; usd wmore maneu 0 or other trailers that the T met requirementAviation Services Becker 505 specializes in marketing and design for the aviation industry. Let us create your corporate identity, TR5500 ed with the CY210 its ideal Wfor small jobs and hard to reach areas. 1/16/15 4:31 PMhen us Engineering &Environmental advertisements and marketing campaigns so you can get PerviousAd_V5.indd 2Architectural back to what you do bestrunning your business! Land Acquisition Aviation PlanningRevenueProgram & Project EnhancementManagementStrategic Funding Air Service Data & TechnologyDevelopmentcmtengr.com | @cmtengrs CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR A FREE QUOTE AND CONSULTATIONINFO@BECKER505.COM|608.205.2788|BECKER505.COMMay | June 2025AirportImprovement.com'