South Dakota Best Maintained Airports
SD Best Maintained Airports
The SD DOT Office of Air, Rail & Transit initiated a “Best Maintained Airport” Awards Program in 2004. There was an award for “Best Maintained Small GA Airport” and another award for “Best Maintained Large GA Airport”. The Office of Air, Rail & Transit inspects all SD public use airports annually.
Criteria
The following are the criteria for the annual SD Airport Awards:
- Airport must have all lights working including PAPIs (precision approach path indicator) and beacon (if applicable). There can be no burnt out bulbs, damaged bases, missing lights, etc.
- Airport needs to be mowed in all areas that are required to be mowed.
- All fences need to be maintained well and all gates closed and locked.
- The entrance road must be in good shape with no potholes or bumps.
- Airports need to keep their pavements in workable condition -- meaning proper maintenance needs to be done like crack sealing, crack repair, FOD (foreign object debris) removed.
- There can be no obstructions that are in the approach slope areas. Obstructions are usually trees, but can be anything that penetrates the different slopes.
- Pavement marking should be to FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) standards and in good shape.
- All signs leading to the airport and on the airport (airside signs) should be readable, straight, not faded, and in proper place.
- The airport should look neat, free from debris, and be kept up in a tidy fashion. In general it should look nice and be pleasing to the eye.
Award Program 2018 - Present
Starting in 2018, four categories of airports were eligible for the “Best Maintained Airport” awards.
Airport Categories:
Basic Service Airports:
Arlington, Corsica, Fairburn (Custer State Park), Groton, Herreid, Howard, Isabel, Kadoka, Kimball, Lake Andes, Presho, Timber Lake, White River. [Footnote: Harrold became private in 2010; Dupree closed in 2011; North Sioux City private became no longer public 2011; McIntosh closed in 2013; Bowdle became private in 2015; Lake Preston closed in May 2019; Clear Lake closed in November 2020]
Small General Aviation Airports:
Bison, Buffalo, Canton, Clark, DeSmet, Eagle Butte, Edgemont, Eureka, Faith, Faulkton, Flandreau, Highmore, Hoven, Martin, McLaughlin, Murdo, Onida, Parkston, Pine Ridge, Platte, Rosebud, Sisseton, Springfield, Wall, Webster, Wessington Springs.
Medium General Aviation Airports:
Belle Fourche, Britton, Chamberlain, Custer, Gettysburg, Gregory, Hot Springs, Lemmon, Milbank, Miller, Mobridge, Philip, Redfield, Sturgis, Vermillion, Wagner, Winner.
Large General Aviation Airports:
Brookings, Madison, Mitchell, Spearfish, Tea, Yankton.
Air Carrier Airports are excluded from consideration:
Aberdeen, Brookings, Huron, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown.
Awards
| Presented at SD Airports Conference held in Deadwood on March 29, 2023 | |||
| 2022 | Basic Service: | Graham Field | Stephen Jones, Airport Manager |
| Small GA: | Edgemont | City of Edgemont, Airport Manager | |
| Medium GA: | Winner | Dave Howard, Airport Manager | |
| Large GA: | Huron | Larry Cooper, Airport Manager | |
Left to right: Tom Koch (Office of Air Rail & Transit) presented the Best Maintained Airport Awards; Jack Dokkens (Office of Air, Rail & Transit) holding the awards for Graham Field and Edgemont; Dave & Tessa Howard holding the award for Winner; and Larry Cooper holding the award for Huron.
Stephen Jones (left) accepted the Best Maintained Award for Graham Field, North Sioux City Airport, from Tom Koch (right) on April 11.
Tom Koch (right) presented the Best Maintained Airport Award to Edgemont on June 13 to (left to right) Joe Koller (Airport and City Maintenance), Aaron Eberle (Finance Officer), and Rheta Reagan (Mayor).
| Presented at SD Airports Conference held in Pierre on April 7, 2022 | |||
| 2021 | Basic Service: | Custer State Park | Matt Synder, Airport Manager |
| Small GA: | Faith | Dave Gebhart, Airport Manager | |
| Medium GA: | Winner | Dave Howard, Airport Manager | |
| Large GA: | Madison | Morris Riggin, Airport Manager | |
Tom Koch, SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, holding the Best Maintained Basic Service Airport Award that will be presented to Matt Synder, Custer State Park Airport Manager, at a later date.
Tom Koch, SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, holding the Best Maintained Small General Aviation Airport Award that will be presented to Dave Gebhart, Faith Airport Manager, at a later date.
Tom Koch (left) SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, presented the Best Maintained Medium General Aviation Airport Award to Dave Howard (right) Airport Manager, and Tessa Howard (center), Howard Aviation.
Tom Koch (left) SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, presented the Best Maintained Large General Aviation Airport Award to Madison Airport; accepted by Myron Downs (right), to be presented to Morris Riggin Airport Manager at a later date.
| Presented at SD Airports Conference held virtually March 31, 2021 | |||
| 2020 | Basic Service: | Arlington | Marshall Mix, Airport Manager |
| Small GA: | Custer County | Brenden Hendrickson, Airport Manager | |
| Medium GA: | Sturgis | Roger Burnham, Airport Manager | |
| Large GA: | Spearfish | Ray Jilek, Airport Manager | |
Tom Koch, SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, holding the Best Maintained Basic Service Airport Award that will be presented to the Arlington Airport Manager at a later date.
Tom Koch (left) SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, presented the Best Maintained Small General Aviation Airport Award to Brenden Hendrickson (right), Custer County Airport Manager.
Tom Koch (left) SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, presented the Best Maintained Medium General Aviation Airport Award to Roger Burnham (center), Sturgis Airport Manager, and Dave Smith (right), City of Sturgis Director of Planning & Permitting.
Tom Koch (left) SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, presented the Best Maintained Large General Aviation Airport Award to Ray Jilek (center), Clyde Ice Field-Spearfish Airport Manager, and Laura Jilek (right), Eagle Aviation.
| Presented at SD Airports Conference in Rapid City on March 12, 2020 | |||
| 2019 | Basic Service: | White River | Katherine O'Brien, Airport Manager |
| Small GA: | Martin | Paul Noel, Airport Manager | |
| Medium GA: | Lemmon | Mike Ginther, Airport Manager | |
| Large GA: | Mitchell | Mike Scherschligt, Airport Manager | |
Tom Koch (left) SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, presented the Best Maintained Small General Aviation Airport Award to Paul Noel (right), Martin Airport Manager.
Tom Koch (left) SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, presented the Best Maintained Medium General Aviation Airport Award to Pat Bootz (right), president of the Lemmon Airport Advisory Board.
| Presented at SD Airports Conference in Watertown on March 27, 2019 | |||
| 2018 | Basic Service: | Groton | Terry Herron, Airport Manager |
| Small GA: | Harding County | Will Henderson, Airport Manager | |
| Medium GA: | Hot Springs | Ed Jensen, Airport Manager |
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| Large GA: | Yankton | Mike Roinstad, Airport Supervisor |
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Tom Koch (left) SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, presented the Best Maintained Medium General Aviation Airport Award to Ed Jensen (right), Hot Springs Airport Manager.
Tom Koch (left) SD DOT, Office of Air, Rail & Transit, presented the Best Maintained Large General Aviation Airport Award to Mike Roinstad (right), Chan Gurney Airport Supervisor, Yankton.
Award Program 2011 - 2017
From 2011 to 2017, three categories of airports were eligible for the “Best Maintained Airport” awards based on the new categories in the SD State Aviation System Plan 2010-2030.
Airport Categories:
Basic Service Airports:
Arlington, Clear Lake, Corsica, Fairburn, Groton, Herreid, Howard, Isabel, Kadoka, Kimball, Lake Andes, Lake Preston, Presho, Timber Lake, White River. [Footnote: Harrold became private in 2010; Dupree closed in 2011; North Sioux City private became no longer public 2011; McIntosh closed in 2013; Bowdle became private in 2015]
Small General Aviation Airports:
Bison, Buffalo, Canton, Clark, DeSmet, Eagle Butte, Edgemont, Eureka, Faith, Faulkton, Flandreau, Highmore, Hoven, Martin, McLaughlin, Murdo, Onida, Parkston, Pine Ridge, Platte, Rosebud, Sisseton, Springfield, Wall, Webster, Wessington Springs.
Medium General Aviation Airports:
Belle Fourche, Britton, Chamberlain, Custer, Gettysburg, Gregory, Hot Springs, Lemmon, Milbank, Miller, Mobridge, Philip, Redfield, Sturgis, Vermillion, Wagner, Winner.
Large General Aviation Airports:
Brookings, Madison, Mitchell, Spearfish, Tea, Yankton.
Air Carrier Airports are excluded from consideration:
Aberdeen, Huron, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown.
Awards:
Presented at SD Airports Conference in Deadwood on April 11, 2018 |
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| 2017 | Basic Service: | Clear Lake | Don Ebbers, Airport Manager |
| Small GA: | McLaughlin | Lornie Hach, Airport Manager | |
| Medium & Large GA: | Miller | Terry Manning, Airport Manager |
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Presented at SD Airports Conference in Mitchell on March 29, 2017 |
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| 2016 | Basic Service: | Howard | Tim Clarke, Airport Manager |
| Small GA: | Canton | Bill Nelson, Airport Manager | |
| Medium & Large GA: | Hot Springs | Ed Jensen, Airport Manager |
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Presented at SD Airports Conference in Deadwood on April 6, 2016 |
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| 2015 | Basic Service: | Arlington | Amiel Redfish, Mayor / Airport Manager |
| Small GA: | DeSmet | Ryan Petersen, Airport Manager | |
| Medium & Large GA: | Winner | David & Tessa Howard, Airport Manager |
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Presented at SD Airports Conference in Sioux Falls on March 19, 2015 |
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| 2014 | Basic Service: | Arlington | Gene Lohan, Utilities Superintendent |
| Small GA: | DeSmet | Ryan Petersen, Airport Manager | |
| Medium & Large GA: | Belle Fourche | Jim & Valerie Anderson, Airport Manager |
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Presented at SD Airports Conference in Spearfish on March 27, 2014 |
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| 2013 | Basic Service: | Arlington | Gene Lohan, Utilities Superintendent |
| Small GA: | Parkston | Brenda Huether, Finance Officer | |
| Medium & Large GA: | Spearfish | Ray Jilek, Airport Manager |
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Presented at SD Airports Conference in Oacoma on March 27, 2013. |
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| 2012 | Basic Service: | Presho | Dustin Smith, Airport Manager |
| Small GA: | DeSmet | Ryan Petersen, Airport Manager | |
| Medium & Large GA: | Milbank | Jason Kettwig, City Administrator | |
| Presented at SD Airports Conference in Deadwood on March 14, 2012. | |||
| 2011 | Basic Service: | Fairburn (Custer State Park) | Augie Heyne |
| Small GA: | Onida | Terry Barber, Airport Manager | |
| Medium & Large GA: | Winner | Don Bice, Airport Manager | |
Award Program 2004-2010
Airport Categories
Small General Aviation Airports:
Arlington, Bison, Bowdle, Buffalo, Clear Lake, Corsica, Custer, Custer State Park (Fairburn), Dupree, Edgemont, Eureka, Faulkton, Flandreau, Harrold, Herreid, Highmore, Howard, Isabel, Kadoka, Kimball, Lake Andes, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Murdo, North Sioux City (private), Onida, Parkston, Platte, Presho, Redfield, Timber Lake, Wall, White River.
Large General Aviation Airports:
Belle Fourche, Britton, Canton, Chamberlain, Clark, DeSmet, Eagle Butte, Faith, Gettysburg, Gregory, Hot Springs, Hoven, Lemmon, Madison, McLaughlin, Milbank, Miller, Mitchell, Mobridge, Philip, Pine Ridge, Sisseton, Spearfish, Springfield, Sturgis, Tea, Vermillion, Wagner, Webster, Wessington Springs, Winner, Yankton (Yankton was first eligible in 2007 and was previously classified as an air carrier airport).
Air Carrier Airportsare excluded from consideration:
Aberdeen, Brookings, Huron, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown.
Awards
| Year | Small GA | Large GA | |
| 2010 | Wall | Mitchell | Presented at 2011 SD Airports Conference, Watertown |
| 2009 | Custer Co. | Yankton | Presented at 2010 SD Airports Conference, Deadwood |
| 2008 | Wall | Yankton | Presented at 2009 SD Airports Conference, Aberdeen |
| 2007 | Clear Lake | Winner | Presented at 2008 SD Airports Conference, Deadwood |
| 2006 | Parkston | Mitchell | presented at 2007 SD Airports Conference, Yankton |
| 2005 | Eureka | Mobridge | Presented at 2006 SD Airports Conference, Deadwood |
| 2004 | Wall | Madison | Presented at 2005 SD Airports Conference, Huron |