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there are occasions when we have airplanes land here because rent from hangar space.
they can’t get into nashville because of the weather or another recreational aviation events are also held throughout the
reason.” year. perry’s first experience at the shelbyville airport was as a
the airport is the gateway for most corporations and private pilot in the 1980s when bob bomar was the manager
businesses seeking to locate in the county. for that reason, there and lived there with his wife, pat.
is always a need to make certain everything is as first class as “you could eat off the ramp,” perry said. “that was mrs.
possible. bomar. It was a very nice facility. I contribute a lot of this facility
“that is another way I look at the airport,” perry said. “It to mr. bomar’s foresight. he had a great vision for aviation.
is the front door of the community. one of the big deals for “I have landed in every public-use airport in tennessee. I can
corporations looking to locate here is to make sure they can get compare it to other airports in the state.”
their people here or fly in parts if needed. perry has a list of people literally begging to place their
“In shelbyville’s case it is actually the front door for two aircraft in shelbyville.
reasons. with its location for people coming off the interstate “there is room for growth,” perry said. “we just don’t have
and going down highway 231 it is the first thing they see. that a place for those aircraft at this time. on the current plan we
is the introduction to the city and the county both.” have space set aside for 40 more t-hangars. we also have room
perry has asked and received approval from the shelbyville for a dozen larger hangars to house corporate aircraft and 10 to
city council to apply for state and federal funding to make 12 planes at a time.
repairs to the runway. “we have room to grow, but it cost money for that
“It will make it structurally sound for the next 25-to-30 infrastructure. I am hoping to make that happen over time.”
years,” perry said. “nothing has been done except for minor perry wants to give the main building a facelift and add
maintenance in all these years. fencing around the area. he would also like to build more
“this is needed. we want to take care of this airport.” hangars.
there are four businesses located at the airport including “we need to continue to support aviation as a business,”
a rental car agency, a flight school with 50 active students, a perry said. “you never know when a businessman might be
nationally and internationally known airplane manufacturer and flying and he is treated well at an airport. that might help him
a maintenance facility. decide to put a business here. I have seen it happen.” H
fuel is a major source of revenue. the airport also relies on

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