In 2021, Aviation Management Consulting Group (ACMG) prepared an assessment of the Madras Municipal Airport to determine current needs and future succession planning. Part of their assessment included onsite inspections and interviews and surveys of airport tenants/users including the Airport Manager/Fixed Base Operator. After analyzing the collected data, their recommendations to the City Council were that the functions of the Airport Manager and Fixed Base Operator should be managed separately with a full-time employee for the Manager and a separate entity for the Fixed Base Operator services. Subsequent to reviewing the consultant’s final report and hearing their presentation, Council authorized staff to pursue the recommendations.
After a lengthy search that attracted applicants from all over the United States, the Madras City Council has appointed Derek Ables as the new Airport Manager for the Madras Municipal Airport with an official start date of April 3rd. Mr. Ables is originally from Oregon and currently serves as the Operations Manager of the Garden City Regional Airport in Garden City, Kansas. He has previously served as the Airport Operations Specialist in Klamath Falls and worked for Ameriflight in Portland. In his interview, Mr. Ables stated he was looking forward to returning to Oregon where he has family and friends.
“We received interest from many qualified applicants,” stated HR & Administrative Director Charo Miller, “but it was imperative for the City and for airport users that we hire someone who had vision and passion to grow.” The Airport Manager provides oversight of day-to-day operations and long-term planning while working hand-in-hand with many different users of the airport. “It’s not only pilots and tenants he’ll be working with, but other users such as the Airshow of the Cascades, Rotarians, and others who utilize the airport for special events,” stated City Administrator Gus Burril. The City continues to make infrastructure improvements at the airport which will also be part of the Airport Manager duties.
The current Airport Manager, Rob Berg of Berg Air, LLC is under contract with the City through June 30, 2023. He has served as both the Airport Manager and the Fixed Base Operator since July 2006. “Our airport has a reputation for being one of the friendliest municipal airports in the area and we have Rob and his family to thank for that. We wish him much success in his new ventures,” stated Mayor Mike Lepin.
The City has issued a Request for Proposals on the Fixed Base Operator services that will close on March 15th. Information can be found on their website at www.ci.madras.or.us.
The Madras Municipal Airport, formerly a World War II training base for B-17 pilots, is now home to the Erickson Aircraft Collection, Erickson Aero Tanker, Daimler Truck North America, and the annual Airshow of the Cascades. The north hangar, originally built during World War II, is on the National Register of Historic Places. In August 2017, the Madras Airport hosted approximately 400 airplanes for the Total Solar Eclipse.
