TERRE HAUTE —
It isn’t every Sunday afternoon that jets line the runway at the Terre Haute International Airport, but many in town wouldn’t mind if they did.
Nicole Brown and her staff managed the counter of Hoosier Aviation LLC inside the airport as pilots and visitors strolled through the gates. Brown and her husband, Jordan, purchased the airport’s Fixed Base Operator late last year, and immediately launched into renovations knowing Super Bowl fans would be coming to Indiana this weekend. By 4 p.m., 20 jets carrying more than 300 people had come through, she estimated.
“It’s picked up this afternoon,” she said, noting more were on the way.
Air traffic exceeded the capacity of the Indianapolis airport, and Terre Haute served as a back-up for overflow. With fans of the New York Giants and New England Patriots all headed west, airports throughout the state got a chance to play host.
Fremont Schoeck of Marshall, Ill., brought his wife along to watch the planes come in that afternoon. Headed to a Super Bowl party later that evening, the couple decided to drop by the local airport and see what kind of planes would be flying onto the field.
“It’s interesting,” Schoeck chuckled. “I haven’t seen a Patriots shirt yet.”
His loyalties would be with New York that evening, he said, explaining as primary reason the brotherhood of Giants quarterback Eli Manning and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton. The fact that Giants punter Steve Weatherford is a Terre Haute North Vigo High School graduate also contributed, he said.
Meanwhile, the new renovations inside the airport also were worth the visit, and something he hopes others from out of town fly in to see.
Shortly after Hoosier Aviation LLC purchased the airport’s FBO, Brown said the group began renovating more than 4,000 square feet throughout the first floor. Tiled floors and new carpet contain leather couches facing television sets. The group had limousine service ready at the gates for visitors, as well as refreshments and food.
“It’s been pretty eventful today,” Brown said, adding that local officials hope to generate more activities to draw crowds to the facility.
Kim Salmon and her father, Jack Drehr, also came to visit and watch the planes land before heading off to a Super Bowl party.
“I came out to be with my dad and enjoy watching the planes with him,” she said.
Seven jets were parked on the runway at the moment, part of a coming and going that went on all day. Salmon described the airport’s renovations as “gorgeous” and expressed her hopes that more service comes that way, perhaps even charter service.
“Terre Haute needs that,” she said.
A Green Bay Packers fan, Salmon said her Super Bowl allegiance leaned toward the closest thing Indiana had to a home team.
“If I had to say, I’d probably say the Giants,” she said, reiterating her real objective that afternoon was to spend time with her father and watch planes fly into Terre Haute.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
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