Brewer Airport fly-in Saturday to raise funds for runway repair

Brewer Airport’s management team hopes to propel renewed interest in aviation and to raise funds to rejuvenate the runway there by holding a fly-in Saturday.

The takeoff and landing strip at Brewer Airport, at the end of Parkway South and next to the armory, has been plagued by potholes and cracks in the surface for many years. Lack of area interest in aviation has contributed to its downfall.

Flyers, consequently, have departed the general aviation airfield and have flown to other locations with better runways, said Brian Higgins, one of 20 members of the Brewer Flying Club.

The club, which manages the airfield, has been slowly filling in the holes and patching up the cracks with money it receives from members’ dues. Putting the project out to bid proved much too expensive; one such offer came in at $12,000.

The airport soon may be getting a face lift, however.

“There seems to be a resurgence of interest in flying,” said Higgins, 38, of Brewer, a student pilot who has about 50 hours of flying experience. Although manufacturers ceased building the Cessna 150 propeller planes like those at the airport about 15 years ago, newly produced models that are put together by the purchaser are increasing in popularity, he said. These “homebuilts” cost between $10,000 and 12,000.

To help foster this rekindled interest in flying and general aviation, the flying club invites everyone to the fly-in Saturday. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature many planes from other airfields. Some of the pilots will participate in an aviation contest. Radio-controlled planes will be on display, and refreshments will be served.

“The biggest expense in general aviation is maintenance and upkeep,” Higgins said. The planes have to be inspected annually and the engine overhauled at regular intervals.

“It’s not like a car. Some people drive their cars until they drop,” he said.