[0:09] [Music] [0:12] [Applause] [0:13] [Music] [0:15] Hello and welcome to another [0:17] conversations in South St. Paul. I am [0:19] the mayor of South St. Paul, Jimmy [0:21] Francis, center of the universe, and [0:23] with us is Andrew Wall from [0:25] Flemingfield, the South St. Paul [0:27] airport. Welcome. [0:28] >> Welcome. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, [0:30] glad to be here. We finally made this [0:32] happen, [0:32] >> right? We were I wanted you to be one of [0:34] my first podcasts. And at the time, you [0:36] couldn't do it, right? [0:37] >> Cuz you were under the weather, [0:38] >> correct? [0:39] >> But here we are. [0:39] >> Here we are. [0:40] >> This is great. And you've probably seen [0:42] a few of these. [0:43] >> I have. [0:43] >> So, you know what? I'm some of the [0:45] questions I'm going to ask are. [0:46] >> I know the first three. [0:47] >> Okay. So, let's go. What What do you [0:49] think the first one is? [0:50] >> Um, favorite band. [0:52] >> Yeah. What's So, what's your favorite [0:53] music? [0:54] >> Favorite band. Favorite music. Um, [0:57] there's probably going to be some haters [0:58] that are going to not like this, but uh [1:00] I'm a big fan of Creed. [1:02] >> Creed? [1:03] >> Yes. [1:03] >> Really? [1:04] >> Um, but [1:05] >> so like big fan meaning like you've been [1:06] to a concert or two? [1:07] >> Been to a couple concerts. Yep. Uh, it [1:09] was actually the first concert that my [1:11] wife and I attended when we were first [1:13] dating. [1:13] >> Oh. [1:14] >> So, it kind of kind of, you know, hits [1:16] me in the fields, right? You know. Yeah. [1:18] >> Um, [1:18] >> I love that. [1:19] >> So, so that's my favorite band probably. [1:21] But full disclosure, I like all kinds of [1:23] music. [1:24] >> Do you? Well, so if we're going to turn [1:25] your your radio on in the car, what's [1:26] what's on it right now? [1:27] >> What was I listening to on the way over [1:29] here? [1:30] >> Um, like some 80s hits of some sort. [1:33] >> So, you seem like you seem like a [1:35] podcast kind of guy, too. Do you listen [1:36] to podcasts? [1:37] >> Sure. [1:37] >> Yeah. [1:38] >> Awesome. [1:39] >> Yeah. [1:39] >> Anyone there you want to drop? Any uh [1:41] specific podcast or you just a rando [1:43] whatever's on [1:44] >> rando whatever topic I'm interested in [1:46] at the time. [1:46] >> Yeah, that's so much fun. I love that's [1:48] what I love about podcasts like this [1:50] conversations in South St. Paul. So, how [1:52] about your favorite sports team? [1:53] Timberwolves, [1:54] >> T-Wolves. [1:55] >> And again, full disclosure, I used to [1:57] hate basketball. Absolutely hated it. Uh [2:00] my kids started playing basketball. Uh I [2:02] kind of picked up on some of the rules [2:03] and some of the nuances of the game [2:06] >> and now I'm I'm a huge fan. [2:08] >> Are you Are you Are you a parent that's [2:10] vocal when your kids are playing or whe [2:12] you're quiet? [2:12] >> Not I'm not. I am one of the quiet [2:14] people. I don't want to be coaching my [2:15] kid from the from the sideline. I think [2:17] that's the coach's job. [2:19] >> So, I sit there and enjoy the game. [2:20] >> Yeah, that's great. That's that's how I [2:23] did it as well because I'd have no [2:24] sports. Although I played ninth grade [2:26] basketball [2:28] >> in for just one year in ninth grade, but [2:30] that's the extent of my sporting. [2:32] >> So, you're an expert. [2:33] >> Yeah. No, I'm not. Those coaches have [2:36] forgotten more than I that I will ever [2:38] know. And it's such a like obviously as [2:41] a parent, you know, coaches are pretty [2:42] special. And whether you like them or [2:44] not, they're really impactful in that [2:46] kid's life for a shorter period of time, [2:48] but they always I always remember my [2:49] coaches. So, [2:50] >> absolutely. [2:51] >> And then, okay, if if you're going to do [2:53] whatever you want to do, if if Andrew is [2:55] picking out the agenda for the day, [2:57] what's Andrew doing? What do you like to [2:58] do in your free time? [3:00] >> Well, uh, if if it's the right season, [3:03] I'm an ice fisherman. Like to go ice [3:05] fishing. [3:06] >> Okay. [3:06] >> Um, doesn't matter. [3:08] >> Yep. Doesn't matter if I catch something [3:09] or not. It's about the time being out [3:11] there. Um, you know, just kind of [3:15] currently in the season of life that I'm [3:16] in. I've got three kids. Um, so we're [3:19] going places every night, you know. So, [3:21] usually I'm kind of a kind of a bus [3:23] driver. [3:23] >> Oh, okay. [3:24] >> Yeah. [3:25] >> So, that's your free time for now. [3:26] >> Yeah. Yeah, that's my free time for now. [3:28] I do get a a few chances every winter to [3:30] escape and and go do a little ice [3:32] fishing. [3:32] >> I love it. Well, thanks for joining me [3:35] here on Conversations in South St. Paul. [3:37] We're talking about all things South St. [3:38] Paul. And we could not do it without our [3:40] Fleming Field, our South St. Paul [3:43] airport, which you are our manager of, [3:46] >> correct? So what was your journey into [3:48] aviation? Tell me about that. [3:50] >> Um so from the very beginning as a [3:53] little kid um I was always interested in [3:56] airplanes. Uh my parents said when I was [4:00] outside as a little toddler I'd see an [4:02] airplane, I'd point and kind of get all [4:04] excited at an airplane going over the [4:06] house. Um so I guess uh it's kind of [4:10] been in my blood this whole time. Um, I [4:14] worked at a at another general aviation [4:16] airport in the metropolitan area here. [4:19] Um, and eventually went to school for [4:22] uh, business aviation um, airport [4:25] management and then uh, graduated. Got a [4:27] job in De Moine, Iowa for worked down [4:30] there for about 12 years. Um, and then [4:32] came back up here in 2018 and uh, all my [4:36] family's here. So, you know, we're kind [4:38] of we're kind of anchored now. [4:40] >> Yeah. I love it. And we're glad you're [4:41] here. We really are. [4:42] >> Enjoy being here. [4:43] >> You've been uh here [4:45] >> since I've been here. So I I was your [4:47] mayor starting, right? Y [4:49] >> and you've just what you've done from [4:51] the people before you and I said [4:52] manager, but you're the airport [4:53] director. So you you direct things at [4:56] the at the airport and you've done an [4:59] awesome job. But what does a airport [5:02] director do? [5:03] >> Um it kind of depends on the airport. [5:06] You know, at our airport in South St. [5:08] Paul, um we have a very small staff. Um, [5:11] so my job could be anything from desk [5:14] work with leases, billing, you know, [5:16] those types of things. Um, up to and [5:19] including snow removal, some lawnmowing, [5:22] um, fixing different things if we can on [5:25] our own. Um, so you kind of have to know [5:28] a little bit about everything. Um, and [5:30] that's kind of what I project to our [5:32] staff. There's only three of us, uh, and [5:34] dur during the week and, um, we get [5:38] along really well. But we all have to [5:40] kind of work together to keep that [5:41] airport running efficiently. [5:44] >> Yeah. [5:44] >> So, [5:44] >> and you know, recently we had a you've [5:46] had emergencies out there, but recently [5:48] we had an emergency and you can share [5:50] about about that how that happened, but [5:53] >> um [5:54] >> you know, in those cases of emergencies, [5:56] maybe just talk us through what happens, [5:58] you know, what what do you do in an [6:00] emergency? [6:01] >> Sure. So, um I did have a lot of [6:03] background at the De Mo airport in [6:05] emergency management. Um, you know, it's [6:08] a different kind of operation. It's more [6:10] commercial operations versus general [6:12] aviation operations. Um, but some of the [6:15] basics remain the same. Um, you know, [6:18] uh, I was kind of wondering if you were [6:20] going to bring this up actually. Um, and [6:22] I'm glad you did. Um, because it did get [6:24] a little bit of little bit of social [6:26] media, you know, notoriety and [6:28] >> yeah, [6:29] >> a little bit of views and stuff. Um, so, [6:32] um, how it kind of happened, how it kind [6:34] of played out. Um, our field maintenance [6:38] worker was actually cutting grass uh [6:41] near the runway. He saw it happen. He [6:44] called over the radio. We heard it. We [6:46] were in the office eating lunch. Um, and [6:49] so we responded to the scene. Um, there [6:52] was the pilot was already out of the [6:54] plane. Um, and uh, I ended up calling [6:58] 911 uh, once we got down there and kind [7:01] of assessed the situation. Um, he did [7:04] have a pretty good uh gash on his [7:06] forehead and that's kind of what [7:07] prompted the call to 911. There was no [7:09] fire, no fuel leaking, none of that, not [7:11] not a safety concern from that [7:13] standpoint. Um, but it was just more his [7:15] well-being. Um, and he ended up being [7:17] just fine, [7:18] >> which we're thankful for. Um, and then, [7:21] um, you know, we we leveraged our [7:24] partnership with Whip Air out there. [7:25] They're they're a great asset to have at [7:27] our airport and in this community in [7:29] general, but um they've helped us on a [7:31] few occasions with incidents like this [7:33] with getting the planes off the runway, [7:36] flipped over, you know, whatever has to [7:38] happen. They've kind of got some [7:39] knowledge and expertise and some [7:40] equipment along with what we have that [7:42] we can we can get things back open [7:44] again. [7:45] >> Yeah. So basically this was a a private [7:47] pilot who was either taking off or [7:50] landing and and taxing and had a [7:53] malfunction, flipped over the plane. Uh [7:56] probably that's where his head got hit [7:57] by hitting hit in the front. Um so [8:00] that's just it's a plain old accident, [8:02] right? [8:02] >> Correct. [8:03] >> And and so this was somebody this was a [8:06] private pilot that was out there. So [8:08] what happens when that happens then? So [8:10] the FAA could get involved and other [8:12] people just for this for the incident. [8:14] Yeah, you know, just for those that [8:15] aren't that aren't familiar with it, you [8:17] know, does it just end when you flip the [8:19] plane over and okay, goes away or does [8:21] that person, that private pilot have to [8:22] go through some steps and report back to [8:24] the airport or what have you. [8:25] >> Right. Right. Um so that day my first [8:28] call was to 911. Um, and then my second [8:31] call was to um, there's something called [8:34] the FAA regional operations center. And [8:36] it's kind of a a one-stop shop for [8:38] airport managers and other airport [8:40] operators to call and um, they can get [8:45] you in touch with people to issue not to [8:48] close your airport, a notice to airmen. [8:50] Um, they can get you in touch with FAA [8:53] representatives in your area, NTSB [8:55] representatives, anybody you want. um [8:58] they can help you with that because [8:59] obviously, you know, there's there's a [9:02] lot of things going on at the same time [9:04] and and you don't want to be making 10 [9:07] phone calls. So, you call one number, [9:09] you can get all the help you need. Um, [9:11] and so when we call them, uh, it does [9:15] trigger, um, an FA representatives from [9:18] the flight standard district office here [9:20] in the Twin Cities to come out and talk [9:23] to the pilot, take a look at the [9:25] airplane. Um, you know, assess the [9:27] damage. They kind of, uh, categorize it, [9:31] you know, minor, major, that type of [9:33] thing. Yeah. Um, as far as anything the [9:36] pilot's going to have to take care of on [9:37] his end, I I I can't comment on that [9:39] because that's not my jurisdiction, so [9:42] to speak. Um, and as far as the airport [9:45] goes, um, you know, once we got the all [9:48] clear to move the airplane from the [9:50] investigators, um, we moved it. Whip [9:52] assisted us in getting it back to the [9:54] gentleman's hanger and then the FAA kind [9:56] of takes it over from there. [9:58] >> Yeah. So, it's just standard. Then it [10:00] just moved to standard operations and [10:02] continues on. We were talking about this [10:03] with some people and someone said, "Oh [10:05] my gosh, you had a a crash at the [10:07] airport." And I said, "Well, that's [10:09] where airplanes are." [10:10] >> Yeah. [10:11] >> It's not uncommon for little crashes [10:13] like that to happen at at our airport, [10:15] at other airports, right throughout the [10:17] >> It does happen from time to time. Um and [10:19] usually it's just a minor [10:21] >> minor incident. Um [10:23] >> you know, I guess we don't want to see [10:26] those happen at all. If it is going to [10:27] happen, an airport's a good place for it [10:29] to happen, [10:30] >> right? um you know rather than [10:31] somebody's yard or somebody's business [10:33] or anything like that. So, [10:34] >> right, an emergency of sorts. Emergency [10:37] landing is never fun. And we've all you [10:39] can go down the rabbit hole of uh Google [10:41] or uh Oh, yeah. YouTube and watch any [10:43] and all of that. So, that was some [10:44] excitement down there for the day and [10:46] for that moment and some learnings. [10:48] >> Yep. Yep. [10:49] >> Yeah. So, your job as a airport director [10:51] is really all-encompassing. anything [10:53] that happens within those gates, [10:55] >> you know, you deal with it or you help [10:56] and coordinate and ensure that all that [10:59] stuff happens and that's that's a pretty [11:00] cool job. [11:01] >> Yeah. Yeah, it is. It's uh it's [11:03] entertaining. Um I think my motto has [11:06] always been no two days are ever the [11:08] same. [11:09] >> Yeah. [11:09] >> There's always something different, [11:10] >> right? [11:10] >> So, [11:11] >> so what's been the biggest challenge for [11:13] you since you've been here? 2018 is when [11:15] you came, [11:16] >> correct? [11:16] >> So, since 2018, what's been your biggest [11:18] challenge? Um, [11:21] you know, we've had a couple of large [11:22] projects at the airport. We [11:24] reconstructed our runway back in 2022. [11:27] Uh, we reconstructed taxiway uh in 2024. [11:32] Um, you know, there's a lot of planning [11:35] that it goes into those projects. Um, [11:39] you know, I think we started talking [11:40] about that runway project when I was [11:43] hired in 2018. Took us four years to get [11:45] there. um you know, you you throw in a [11:48] pandemic in there, that does slow things [11:49] down a little bit. [11:50] >> Yeah. [11:51] >> But um [11:52] >> you know, those are some of the biggest [11:54] challenges is seeing those through to [11:56] completion. Um [11:57] >> you know, I I think I saw in your sheet [11:59] here, you had something about uh [12:01] upcoming projects, what's going on, [12:03] right? [12:03] >> Um we do have a fuel system replacement [12:05] project coming up next year. Um, and [12:08] that's been kind of tricky because some [12:09] of those fuel system items, say, you [12:12] know, point of sale or the pumps or [12:15] certain things in that project are not [12:17] federally eligible for funding. Some of [12:20] them are um some of them are only [12:23] eligible for state funding. Um, so we're [12:26] using multiple different buckets and, [12:28] you know, going to fund it as best we [12:30] can um to lower our local share here at [12:34] the city. [12:35] >> Yeah. and you've done a tremendous job [12:36] of getting those grants and getting that [12:38] that that investment into us. Now, we [12:41] are South St. Paul is a city-owned [12:45] >> airport. There are few of us around the [12:47] state. There's around the country, but [12:50] many of them are with the Metropolitan [12:53] Airports Commission or a MAC airport. So [12:55] tell people that wouldn't know what the [12:58] difference is between Flemingfield and [13:00] let's say another MAC airport like Anoka [13:04] or whatever one. [13:05] >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean um you know all the [13:09] airports in the metro area here are what [13:11] we call reliever airports. They relieve [13:14] that smaller air traffic uh maybe slower [13:17] air traffic from MSP the big airport [13:19] where we all go to Florida from and you [13:22] know on vacation commercial flights. [13:24] >> Yeah. Um so so the biggest difference [13:27] for us uh being a city-owned airport is [13:30] that um you know we really leverage [13:35] those federal dollars and the state [13:37] dollars for our bigger projects. Um the [13:41] Metropolitan Airports Commission does [13:43] have some leeway with that and and not [13:46] always do they go for the federal [13:47] funding. um you know, they have enough [13:50] uh income that they can sometimes just [13:52] afford to do some of those projects on [13:54] their own and not have to adhere to some [13:56] of the federal obligations that you have [13:58] when you get a federal grant or a state [14:00] grant. Um so, you know, um I think it [14:04] does make us more attractive for a lot [14:08] of pilots in the area. Um we do have uh [14:11] some of the cheapest fuel in the [14:13] metropolitan area and we try to make it [14:15] that way or keep very competitive with [14:17] our closest airports um which would be [14:20] Lake Elmo, Air Lake, um Anoka, those [14:23] types of airports. Um we have some of [14:28] the lower lease rates for hangar lots. [14:31] Um te hanger rental, we have two banks [14:34] of tea hangers. Those are very [14:35] competitive rates as well. Um, so it's [14:38] just kind of just kind of an attractive [14:40] airport for a lot of lot of pilots in [14:42] this kind of southeast metro area. And [14:44] we even have some that drive as far as [14:46] uh the west metro like Eden Prairie, [14:48] Chanhassen area to come over here. [14:50] >> Yeah. Because it's a it's a beautifully [14:52] run airport. It's it's uh low cost, low [14:54] fuel. [14:55] >> Yep. [14:55] >> Um the traffic probably from Eden [14:57] Prairie to here is worth the the effort [14:59] and the savings. [15:00] >> Maybe when there's not construction. [15:02] >> Yeah. But but having an airport uh is a [15:05] is a pretty awesome thing for a city. [15:06] And I know for us it brings in talk [15:08] about the revenues that comes in and I [15:10] don't know if you're prepared to do that [15:11] but you can use round numbers but we [15:13] really help the economy by having our [15:16] own little airport. Tell us about that. [15:17] >> Right. Yeah. So back in 20 I believe it [15:19] was 2019 [15:21] u Mindot Aeronautics did a study an e [15:23] economic impact study and um and the [15:27] South St. Paul airport generates [15:29] approximately I think it was in the $60 [15:30] million annually range whiching, you [15:34] know, you you really have to think about [15:36] it's not just [15:38] people bringing in $65 million to our [15:41] airport. It's to our area which includes [15:44] South St. Paul, West St. Paul, [15:46] Invergroveve Heights, maybe out to Egan. [15:48] Maybe it goes across the river a little [15:50] bit. But you think about the people that [15:52] that fly in here, they get a hotel, they [15:54] get a rental car, they go out to eat a [15:55] few times, or the employees that work at [15:58] the airport, they go out to eat, they [16:00] buy gas and things at the at the [16:02] convenience store, right? So, it's it's [16:04] it's not just the circle around the [16:06] airport, it's a big big chunk of the [16:09] area that they really look at. And so, [16:12] you know, that's a huge economic driver [16:15] for this community to have that kind of [16:17] money brought in annually. to this area. [16:21] >> It sure is. And it's again, it's a gem [16:24] in in the state. Uh Fleming Field. So, [16:28] let's talk about Flemingfield. What kind [16:29] of what are the history do you know [16:30] about Fleming and and how did how did we [16:32] become the South St. Paul airport? How [16:34] did we get an airport? [16:36] >> Um so, you could probably tell this [16:39] story honestly. You're a you're a you're [16:41] a lifelong resident here, correct? So, [16:43] you're quizzing me. I get it. [16:45] >> Um so, uh the South St. Paul Airport was [16:49] originally a Navy base. Um, some people [16:52] in the community might know this, some [16:54] may not, but fun fact, um, George W. [16:57] Bush or no, George HW Bush, I'm sorry, [17:01] uh, did his pilot training here, um, [17:04] >> for the Navy. [17:04] >> For the Navy, correct? They did their [17:07] training at the airport. They, uh, [17:09] bunkked in the, um, the barracks at Fort [17:13] Snelling. Um and so once the Navy [17:17] decided they didn't want the airport [17:19] anymore, they deeded it to the city. [17:22] Correct. [17:22] >> Yes. [17:23] >> Um and then it became cityowned. It was [17:27] not cityrun at the time. There was uh [17:30] some FBOs or fixed base operators we [17:32] call them uh that operated the airport [17:35] and plowed the snow, cut the grass, sold [17:37] the gas, all that stuff. Um, and then I [17:41] believe it was maybe was it in the 80s [17:44] we hired an airport man or started [17:46] >> doing the airport manager thing with the [17:48] city and having own city staff there on [17:50] site [17:51] >> um to maintain the grounds. Yeah. So [17:53] >> give us a little more control of what [17:55] was happening [17:56] >> and ins and outs and then of course the [17:58] grants and the federal dollars that come [18:00] with that opportunity. [18:01] >> Yeah. Yeah. So, um, we do still have [18:04] some of those original hangers that, uh, [18:07] were originally constructed in the ' [18:09] 40s. We have there's a few pictures [18:10] floating around of some of that [18:12] construction, but, uh, if anybody's been [18:14] out to the commemorative air force for [18:16] their dances in the spring and the fall [18:17] or events out there, um, those big bow [18:21] string hangers, we call them, are [18:22] original to the airport. [18:24] >> They're so cool. They are very cool [18:26] >> and and it's hard to do when you have [18:28] those old buildings to do upgrades and [18:31] follow the they didn't have or maybe [18:33] they do now. They didn't have in the 40s [18:36] suppression, [18:37] >> right? Fire suppression. [18:38] >> Suppression. So, you put airplanes in [18:39] there and with all that wood and [18:41] something happens, it would go up. But [18:42] >> now all that stuff is, I would not say [18:45] state-of-the-art, but modernized, [18:46] >> correct? [18:47] >> And ready to ready to host that. And [18:50] really, the airport is for airplanes. It [18:52] isn't. We We We're not an airport that [18:54] wants people having their cars and RVs [18:56] and those kinds of things out there. We [18:58] want general aviation. We want the [19:00] enthusiasts and even some business [19:01] people. We We'll talk about that in a [19:03] minute about the businesses that are out [19:04] there or that have developed because [19:06] they're at the airport. But our uh South [19:09] St. Paul's owning of the airport really [19:12] is again part of our community fiber. [19:14] You know, if you go there to your [19:16] airport and you walk in the terminal, [19:18] which people can come, and that was the [19:19] other thing I want to make sure you let [19:20] people know, they can come and watch and [19:22] bring kids to see all that stuff. And [19:24] they've got pancake um and airplane [19:26] rides and pancake fests to to bring in [19:28] and get people encouraged in that. But [19:31] it used to be in a circle, right? The [19:33] the runways were a circle. Tell me about [19:36] why that changed or or how that changed [19:39] or any info on that. Yeah. So, um, many [19:42] airports, uh, in the early days of [19:44] aviation were in were just that. It was [19:47] a circle. Maybe it was cut out of a corn [19:49] field, a hay field, something like that. [19:51] Um, and airplanes need to take off and [19:54] land into the wind. Um, that's the [19:56] safest way for them to do that. So, um, [20:00] having just a big circle in a field [20:02] allowed them to figure out, you know, [20:04] which way the wind's coming from. All [20:05] right, I'm going to take off to the [20:06] south. Or today it's from the north, I'm [20:08] going to take off to the north. or or [20:10] some other uh thing like that. So um you [20:15] know now there are studies done when an [20:18] airport is going to be either [20:19] constructed or a new runway is going to [20:21] be constructed. There's studies done on [20:23] what are the prevailing winds and um and [20:26] then the runway is built in that [20:29] direction so to speak uh to allow the [20:32] aircraft to have the best chance to take [20:34] off and land into the wind. Yeah. [20:36] >> Um it doesn't always happen. Sometimes [20:37] there's a crosswind. Um but pilots train [20:40] for that and you know if it's if it's [20:42] too windy a lot of the airplanes uh at [20:45] our airport the smaller ones don't fly [20:48] just becomes a safety risk. [20:49] >> Yeah. [20:50] >> So so we're having a conversation in [20:52] South St. Paul we're talking about [20:53] Fleming Field in our airport with Andrew [20:55] Wall our airport director. Andrew tell [20:58] me people that are just interested [21:00] neighbors [21:01] going around with their kid for a day [21:03] just looking for something to do. How [21:05] can the airport accommodate just curious [21:09] people? [21:10] >> Um, so our terminal building, like you [21:12] mentioned, is open uh during the day. [21:15] Uh, we do have some models and things to [21:17] look at in the in the building and we do [21:19] have a few people that come in with [21:21] their kids, especially in the [21:22] summertime. Uh, you know, they got to [21:24] get out of the house and let the kids [21:25] run around a little bit. So, they'll [21:27] come and come and visit us. Um, every [21:29] Wednesday and Saturday, the [21:30] commemorative Air Force is open. And [21:32] that's a great place for people to come [21:33] and and check out. Um there's no [21:35] admission fee, but they do ask for a [21:37] free will donation. [21:39] >> Um a lot of cool things to see there. A [21:41] lot of things to climb on. A lot of [21:42] things to look at. Um so [21:45] >> lots of smells. [21:46] >> Lots of smells. Yeah. [21:47] >> It's just great. [21:48] >> It And again, that's in one of those old [21:50] hangers, so you get to you kind of get [21:51] the full experience, [21:53] >> right? [21:53] >> Um every spring and fall, they host a [21:57] dance. We mentioned that. [21:58] >> Um they've got another one coming up [22:00] here. I think it's in a couple of [22:02] weekends. September 13th or 14th, I [22:04] believe. Um, so watch for that. Um, [22:08] that's a great experience for anybody [22:09] wanting to kind of have a you need a [22:12] date night. You want to take the kids [22:14] out. It's a lot of fun. Um, people dress [22:16] up in period correct clothing. Um, they [22:19] have a Roseville big band there. [22:21] >> Unbelievable. [22:21] >> Swing dance lessons. They got the planes [22:23] out. They do a runup with Miss Mitchell. [22:25] It's a great time. Um the other thing if [22:28] people are interested in aviation we do [22:30] have pancake breakfasts in the spring [22:32] and the fall sponsored by our local EAA [22:34] chapter. Um and along with that there [22:38] are pilots that donate their time and [22:39] fuel and um do airplane rides for kids. [22:43] I believe it's ages 7 to 18 or 8 to 18 [22:46] something like that. [22:47] >> Yeah. Just to try to fuel that. [22:49] >> Yeah. just to kind of get them maybe you [22:50] get them interested and and I've always [22:52] said you know [22:54] >> I was once that kid on the other side of [22:56] the fence looking in wanting to be in [22:58] the airplane or wanting to be up close [23:00] you know so if we can inspire one of [23:03] those kids you know you give a hundred [23:05] rides you give a 100 kids a ride if we [23:08] can get one then we've done our job [23:11] right you know hopefully we get more [23:12] than that but if we can get one [23:14] interested in aviation because I can't [23:15] frankly do my job forever all those [23:17] pilots aren't going to be able to fly [23:19] forever. So, we've got to keep the [23:20] people coming up behind us, keep them [23:22] interested in aviation. [23:25] >> Yeah. And you're a prime example of [23:27] somebody who's a airport director that [23:30] isn't a private pilot. You're not out [23:33] flying around all the time. So, so [23:34] people can have careers without getting [23:36] in the air. They can also be mechanics [23:39] and they can also be interior designers [23:41] and there's all types of things in the [23:43] within aviation that that can happen. [23:45] crop dusting, all of those kinds of [23:47] things where Yeah. the businesses are uh [23:50] there's a business of aviation within [23:52] it. [23:52] >> Yeah. And I've always, you know, I I've [23:54] spoken to some high school kids before [23:57] and I've told them, think of a job that [24:00] you want to do and there is probably a a [24:04] mirror image of that job in aviation. [24:07] You want to be a police officer. You can [24:09] be a police officer. Maybe not at our [24:10] airport, but you at the big airport, [24:12] they have their own police department. [24:15] They have their own fire department. You [24:17] can work security like say for the TSA. [24:19] You could work as a plumber if you want [24:21] to be in the trades. Um, you know, they [24:24] have electricians. They have all of [24:26] these different jobs. And maybe you, you [24:29] know, that's your big passion, but you [24:31] still kind of like airplanes. Well, it's [24:33] a great place to work then [24:34] >> because you get a the best of both [24:36] worlds, right? [24:37] >> Yeah. [24:37] >> So, [24:37] >> and we've got businesses down there. [24:39] Let's talk about that at our airport. [24:40] They're a huge economic driver for us. [24:42] They're a huge supporter. They rent a [24:44] lot of space from the city, the airport. [24:47] Uh talk about those businesses and and [24:49] what how important are are those [24:51] businesses to our little Fleming field. [24:53] >> Yeah. Um they're super important. Um I [24:56] mean they're they're really what makes [24:57] the airport what it is, you know. Um [25:00] earlier we mentioned Whip. They're our [25:03] largest business out there. I think are [25:05] they the second or third largest [25:07] employer in this in this town? Three. [25:09] Yeah, [25:09] >> three. Yeah. Um I think they have about [25:11] 300 employees uh between their their [25:14] different facilities and then they also [25:15] have a um a manufacturing facility just [25:19] across the airport where they [25:20] manufacture the floats for the for the [25:22] bigger airplanes. Um so we've got a [25:25] couple of flight schools. We've got a um [25:29] got a company called Dauntless Air. They [25:31] they operate Fire Bosses which is what [25:33] Whip Air builds. So, it's kind of a [25:35] great partnership to have Whip Air. [25:37] They're pumping out the Fire Bosses and [25:39] Dauntless Air uh using them um for the [25:43] forest fire stuff. So, [25:45] >> yeah. And they're going to be rolling [25:46] their number 200 something off the line [25:49] here in a couple weeks. [25:50] >> Yeah, I think uh last I heard there's [25:52] like a three-year wait list for those [25:54] fire bosses. They just can't build them [25:56] fast enough. So, and obviously we, you [25:58] know, we see the news, we see the things [25:59] on TV. There's definitely a demand for [26:02] that. And I and I think as motans, you [26:04] know, we see that with the the summer [26:06] we've had, you know, um with the with [26:08] the smoke that's been coming down from [26:10] Canada. [26:10] >> Um there's a definite need for that. So, [26:13] uh Whip Air, it's great to have them in [26:15] our community filling that filling that [26:17] need. [26:18] >> Yeah, we've seen some unbelievable [26:19] airplanes come in through there. And [26:21] many of those are from powerful rich [26:23] people that that have the money to spend [26:26] on avionics and they send them to Whip [26:28] and Whip Air and not they're not might [26:30] not be putting floats on. They might be [26:31] doing a full interior with lights and [26:34] avionics and all those things. And so [26:36] that brings again more revenue and more [26:37] people to our city and a little, [26:39] >> you know, a little [26:40] >> I don't know excitement, right? [26:42] >> Yeah. Yeah. And then and then uh with [26:44] Dauntless we coming in to if those that [26:47] don't know the the fire bosses are the [26:49] are the [26:51] >> single prop airplanes that that suck up [26:54] water from inside the floats and it goes [26:56] into a holding tanks within that [26:58] airplane and then they do that within a [27:01] nancond on the water and they take off [27:03] and go over the fire and and drop that. [27:05] Yep. [27:05] >> So those that coming to South St. Paul [27:08] was because of whip air. You know the [27:10] Dauntless said why don't we just be [27:11] right next to them? [27:12] >> Yep. and and we're able we were able to [27:14] accommodate all that and bring all that [27:16] in with those jobs and just made their [27:19] jobs even better because it's right next [27:20] door, [27:21] >> right? [27:21] >> It's it's pretty it's pretty amazing and [27:23] I've you know I've always thanked all of [27:25] them down there, but there's [27:27] >> chopper uh helicopter places down there. [27:31] There's there's these little things you [27:32] don't know about uh businesses down [27:34] there. The one fell who goes out and his [27:37] total job is to fly around the country [27:38] and tear apart old airplanes. [27:40] >> Yeah. So he's a scrapper of sorts for [27:43] airplanes. So again, you think of your [27:44] jobs that you were talking about. Yeah. [27:46] >> You know, there's a scrapper part of [27:49] >> aviation. So that is just a really neat [27:52] thing down there and we have all that. [27:53] It's just it's a little sleeper. U [27:55] nobody not a lot of people know about [27:56] that down there that that's and and [27:58] that's where that 60 million 65 million [28:00] of economy that happens here is because [28:03] of those businesses. [28:04] >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So you know, you [28:06] mentioned some of the smaller [28:07] businesses. Um, we have, uh, obviously [28:11] like the scrapper guy, you mentioned [28:12] helicopters. There's a there's a [28:14] helicopter outfit there. We had, uh, [28:16] somebody actually working with Excel [28:18] Energy, um, right out over the river um, [28:21] surveying the power lines uh, in a [28:23] helicopter, working hand inand with [28:25] Excel. Um, and to kind of stay on the [28:28] Excel Energy topic, they also uh, we [28:33] also have a business called Eagle Sky [28:35] Patrol. They um fly around the [28:38] metropolitan area and other areas of the [28:40] country um surveying gas pipelines uh [28:44] looking for encroachment like trees, [28:46] maybe somebody built the fence too [28:48] close, those types of things. Um so they [28:51] they have a kind of a maintenance [28:52] facility at our airport. Um and so uh [28:57] yeah, [28:57] >> that's pretty cool. Yeah. [28:58] >> You know, you think about that and then [29:00] you see them. I've seen them drive it [29:01] back in the day, I know, four years ago, [29:04] driving up 94 um and they were doing the [29:06] power lines where the helicopter was [29:09] pulling the thing through [29:11] >> and that's all those [29:12] >> I think you and I might have been [29:13] driving on the highway at the same time [29:15] cuz I saw that too. [29:16] >> Yeah, it's pretty cool. And you think [29:17] about it and go how did I mean obviously [29:19] they are smart people but [29:21] >> right [29:22] >> wow it's a [29:23] >> they figured out a way to use aviation [29:25] and to you know to make it efficient. [29:27] >> Yeah. Right. Yeah, exactly. Well, so [29:30] before we end uh on our conversations in [29:33] South St. Paul, how did Fleming Field [29:36] get its name? [29:38] >> Oh, [29:39] so uh we'll see if I get this right. [29:42] There was a gentleman named Richard E. [29:44] Fleming who was in World War II in the [29:48] Navy. [29:50] And he, if I'm not mistaken, correct me, [29:54] he uh [29:56] did he uh what do they call it? Like a [29:59] kamicazi pilot crashed his airplane into [30:02] a Japanese [30:04] uh naval ship to disable it and [30:07] basically sacrificed himself. Um [30:10] >> a war hero. [30:11] >> Yep. Yep. And so yeah, we've got the [30:13] display in the in the building there [30:15] with his picture and kind of some some [30:18] news stories and things like that [30:20] >> associated with his story. [30:22] >> Sacrificed himself and so worthy of the [30:24] name uh to name an airport and it [30:27] happened to be South St. Paul that got [30:28] that. [30:29] >> Yep. [30:29] >> And uh we're forever known as [30:32] >> the South St. Paul airport, [30:33] Flemingfield. What is our you know I [30:35] know they have call letters. What is our [30:36] call letters of our [30:38] >> uh so every airport in the United States [30:40] the the identifier starts with a K. [30:43] Don't ask me why that is. I don't know. [30:45] Um but then ours is K KSGS. [30:48] >> KSGS. [30:49] >> Yep. [30:50] >> Awesome. [30:51] >> Yeah. [30:51] >> Well, anything I haven't asked you about [30:53] your job uh as the airport director at [30:56] Fleming Field, about the runway [30:58] projects, about all the things that [31:00] we've done that that you haven't [31:01] answered or that you want people to know [31:02] about our airport? Um, you know, I I [31:04] will just kind of go back to our fuel [31:06] system. I kind of wanted to, you know, [31:08] maybe mention a couple extra things [31:09] about that. Um, so there is an unleted [31:15] AVG gas um, initiative happening right [31:18] now. A lot of the, you know, pilots know [31:20] about it. Um, maybe some of the general [31:22] public does not. Um, but the aviation [31:25] fuel that, uh, piston engine aircraft [31:29] use does have lead in it. Um it's a very [31:32] very small amount, but it's necessary [31:35] for those engines to operate safely. Um [31:39] there's an initiative going on where [31:41] they're trying to remove that lead from [31:42] the fuel. Um make it cleaner for the [31:45] environment, cleaner for people to [31:47] handle, that type of stuff. Cleaner to [31:49] manufacture, honestly. Um and we aren't [31:53] there yet. Uh the goal is by 2030. So [31:57] we're getting close. Um, but with that [32:00] fuel system project, [32:03] we're trying to position ourselves, and [32:05] by we, I mean Fleming Field, we're [32:07] trying to position ourselves to be ready [32:10] for that fuel. We're going to put in [32:11] what we call a split tank. So, it'll be [32:14] a larger tank with kind of a divider in [32:16] the middle um that we can [32:20] close off, so to speak, when that new [32:22] fuel is available. And we can offer [32:24] both. We already offer an unleted a gas [32:27] right now. It's not the highest octane [32:29] that some of the airplanes need, but [32:31] it's available. We offer it, we have it, [32:33] we have two separate tanks. Um, when [32:36] that fuel becomes available, we'll [32:38] divide the tank out, offer both [32:41] products, and then when the switchover [32:43] happens, um, you know, switch open up [32:46] that divider once we sell the leaded gas [32:48] out, clean the tank, offer only unleted [32:51] fuel. Um, so I would we were the first [32:55] airport in the metropolitan area to [32:57] offer that unled fuel um, back in [33:01] might have been 2018 or 2019, I think. [33:03] Um, so again, I'd like to kind of try to [33:06] make us be the first to offer that in [33:09] the metro area again. Um, offer that new [33:12] alternative. So, we've still got a lot [33:14] of work to do. And by we, I mean all the [33:16] people uh all the committees and [33:18] everything working on this. But once [33:20] it's approved and it starts coming [33:22] through production and and we can start [33:24] purchasing it, I think we'll we'll be in [33:26] a good spot. [33:27] >> Yeah, that's really awesome. And again, [33:28] that that foresight in all that and all [33:30] the behind the work, the cerebral work [33:32] that happens to figure all that out to [33:34] use money wisely, [33:35] >> right? You got to set yourself up to be [33:37] ready and not have to modify something [33:39] down the road. [33:40] >> Yeah. [33:40] >> So, yeah, lots of decisions to be made. [33:43] >> Great. Well, people are just finding us, [33:45] you know, on Spotify and listening to [33:48] our conversations here in South St. Paul [33:49] if they wanted to check out Fleming [33:51] Field. They can go to the South St. Paul [33:53] airport or South St. Paul website and [33:55] there's a a link. But what is the what's [33:57] the airport's landing page? Pun [34:00] intended. [34:00] >> Are you talking like the city? [34:02] >> Yeah, yours. Well, I mean, is there a [34:04] Flemingfield page? Uh, so not not any I [34:06] mean there is um if you go to the city [34:09] website and find our department uh [34:10] Flemingfield Airport. Um the easiest way [34:13] that I tell most people to find us is if [34:15] you just Google Flemingfield and it will [34:17] usually be that first hit. Um and it [34:19] takes you right to our page so can tell [34:21] you more about the airport. [34:23] >> Yeah. Well, I appreciate you coming in [34:24] and talking. I'm really glad that uh we [34:26] have you on board and that um you're [34:30] willing I I've been in there before. [34:31] Just pop in. and they stop in and and [34:34] I've seen you interacting with whether [34:36] they're renters or users already of the [34:39] airport or people inquiries about the [34:41] airport. You're very generous with your [34:42] time and so thank you for that. But [34:44] that's just to let people know that if [34:45] they do have in interest or comment [34:47] questions or any of that. um you're very [34:50] very knowledgeable and always willing [34:52] people have complaints about noise and [34:54] those things and you address them in a [34:55] in a timely manner as well as you know [34:57] sometimes it's you can't help but you [34:59] can't fix it but you're able to at least [35:01] give them a contact where they can they [35:03] can connect and so [35:04] >> yeah yeah we try to do our best to to [35:07] answer those complaints and and try to [35:09] solve a lot of the problems that you [35:10] know if people have questions or [35:12] concerns you know that's that's part of [35:15] the job. [35:16] >> Yeah. So, [35:16] >> well, again, thanks for coming on. We [35:18] appreciate you and it's have been fun to [35:20] be conversations with South St. Paul [35:22] with Andrew Wall from our Fleming Field [35:25] here in South St. Paul. [35:26] >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [35:29] [Music]