In helping to put Sampson County on the economic map, the Clinton-Sampson Airport Advisory board has adopted a set of commercial operator standards as part of its manual of Airport Rules and Regulations to help make it a viable unit for industries.

In the past, the airport has not been designed for corporate or business flights, but the advisory board recently upgraded its rules and regulations to make it more viable for corporations to utilize the facility.

“The idea is to bring the airport up to a higher level so it can support larger corporate aircraft ... This will make it more attractive to businesses and others,” said Clinton city managerJohn Connet, who also serves as airport manager.

According to Connet, the Clinton-Sampson Airport already had rules, but due to the airport continuing to receive about 90 percent of its grant funding from the federal and state government, it was necessary to make sure the facility and its users were compliant with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercial standards. Such grant funding has made it possible for the airport to build on a parallel parkway that is currently under construction.

Connet also pointed out that most of the rules local aviation enthusiasts follow are about the same as they have already been. “There won’t be any huge differences in the accessing of the airport,” said Connet.

But commercial regulations will be somewhat different as the document explains such rules that will be applied as the airport adds corporate aircraft into its plans.Some of the commercial regulations that are spelled out include “No aircraft, aviation organization or person shall engage in any commercial operation of any type at the Airport” or “Landing fees for private or business users may be established by the City from time to time.”

This updated manual also includes a liability clause, stating that the airport Advisory Board assumes “no responsibility for loss, injury or damage to persons or property by reason of fire, theft, vandalism, wind, flood earthquake, collision, strikes or acts of God or of the public enemy.”

The document also tells what to do in the case of an emergency and what will happen if a person chooses to not follow the rules and regulations.

In addition to the updated rules, the advisory board also has plans to build additional hangers and increase its security to further its plans for industry.

Sampson County manager Rick Moorefield, who is also on the airport’s advisory committee, apparently concurs with Connet’s assessment, based on a prepared statement issued by assistant county manager Susan Holder.

Moorefield did not personally comment to the paper about this matter.

In the statement issued by Holder, Moorefield clarified the purpose of the updated handbook. “It represents what the state Division of Aviation and the FAA requires an airport our size to do to maintain compliance with the grant funding we receive.”

Jarvis McLamb, chairman of the Board of Commissioners and advisory board member, pointed out that he is “not familiar” with the rules and regulation manual, despite the fact that both boards approved the document.

“I have not been through it completely,” said McLamb, who added, “but nothing sticks out big.”

Commissioner John Blanton also pointed out that he has not read the document through, despite the fact that he, too, voted for it.

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by email at silife@myclintonnc.com.