Board considers antique car show, fly-in to attract visitors to airport
The Delta Regional Airport Authority met in regular session Thursday, where they discussed the construction of the airport’s new hangar.
Board members also talked about possibility hosting an antique car show and fly-in this fall.
Board secretary Mike Easley was absent from the meeting.
Board president Shannon Hobbs told the board he has requested that when the concrete is eventually poured for the foundation of the new hangar, that the company collect samples of the concrete to be tested to see if there are issues with the concrete.
"As you all can see, the forms are up for concrete to be poured," said Hobbs. "The rain has held it off, but I would rather it not get wet under the plastic. I want us to have good concrete. I have also asked for them to do test tubes when they pour the concrete. This would allow us to have something to fall back on if the concrete fails as we can then have it tested. We can hire a testing agency to come in and do all of this, but it is around $3,000. Personally, I just don't want to spend that much. I would rather have the test sleeves on hand and then if there is a problem later on, we can send them off and have them tested at that time."
"What would the cost be if we were to have them tested at a later date?” asked board member Brenda White, who was attending her first meeting since being approved by the Forrest City City Council.
"If you had them tested later on, the cost would probably be about the same," said Hobbs. "Somewhere around $3,000. If we detect an issue, we would want to have them tested. But, I will collect the samples and put them in the vault. They will be dated and labeled in case we need to have them tested."
Hobbs said that he eventually wants to enclose a walkway
between the terminal building and the new hangar that would allow travelers and pilots to cross between the buildings without
being in the weather.
"The plan on the building is that when you walk out of the