CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT John Sanders, of Aries Consulting, Ltd., briefly explains the master plan for the Pahrump Valley Airport to the Pahrump Town Board and meeting attendees May 27. The master plan was approved by the board and the project will move on to the next phase, an environmental assessment. Advertisement

Five years in the making, the Pahrump Valley Airport master plan was approved by the Pahrump Town Board Tuesday, opening the door for the next phase in the project, the environmental assessment.

The airport, to be located about two-and-a-half miles south of the end of Gamebird Road near the California border, is expected to be operational by 2012 but will continue to expand until about 2025.

The Pahrump Valley Airport will be owned and operated by the town and accommodate the smallest of mail planes, private small aircraft (charter planes like a corporate Cessna), and the popular "air taxi," which is exactly what it sounds like; privately owned planes that charge people who want to go from point A to point B.

Even small airports aren't cheap, but the good news is that when all is said and done, the Federal Aviation Administration will be paying approximately $17 million of the estimated $20 million it will cost in the initial phases.

Other funding comes through the state, such as the $15,789 from the Nevada Department of Transportation grant approved by the board January 2007. That grant, in turn, was the match to a $375,000 FAA grant the town received in 2003 as part of its Airport Investment program.

Also putting another penny in the piggy bank, Sen. Harry Reid announced last year Pahrump would receive $475,000 of a U.S. Department of Transportation grant to pay for the environmental impact study.

Charlie Gronda, who has spent hours on the project, is not paid for the work he has done, but his efforts are also part of the town's in-kind contribution for funding.

The remainder of the funding is expected to come from the private sector, such as hangar rentals and other investments.

Bill Thompson, with NDOT, drove down from Carson City to make the meeting and wished the town's airport well.

"I know that NDOT has been supporting Pahrump for many years, and we're excited to have a master plan," Thompson said. "The FAA has told me they're excited and they definitely want to support this plan. With that, just want to say good luck on your airport -- we're excited about it."

John Sanders, of Aries Consultants, Ltd., gave the board a brief presentation on the master plan, showing the blueprints of where hangars, tie-down areas, administrative buildings, a firefighting facility, and other necessities would be constructed.

After a few questions about the money, the meeting attendees expressed support for the project.

Butch Borasky, the board's county commission liaison, said he supports the airport.

"The aviation industry is changing tremendously and we're looking forward to the airport, instead of being a town subsidy, becoming something that can generate revenue," Al Balloqui, chairman of Pahrump Alliance Valley Economic Development, said.

"I just wanted to thank these gentlemen, I think this was a very informative presentation," Vicky Parker, town board candidate said. "I especially want to thank Charlie Gronda for the years and years he's put in."

"I'd like to second that," Sanders said. "Charlie has put in a tremendous amount of time and we certainly appreciate his efforts and everything else that he's done on this project."