Thursday, April 25, 2024
MAYOR’S MUSINGS
Jim Jarratt is the mayor of Granbury. He is a retired executive with experience on city and county advisory boards.
On a recent visit to Fredericksburg, Texas I found myself having breakfast at the Fredericksburg Airport Diner. Two gentlemen who had just flown in (I had arrived by automobile) sat next to me and we began a conversation.
When I mentioned that I was from Granbury you could tell that I had their interest.
“ What is going on with your airport?” they asked. Not wanting to appear too knowledgeable, I asked what they meant. And boy, did I get an earful.
Here are just a few of the comments: “A very well-maintained facility, very professional, great service, best gas prices around, where is the best place to get a $100 hamburger?, and do you have any available hanger space?”
I could hardly wait to get back to Granbury to share with Airport Manager Pat Stewart the many good things I had heard about the Granbury Airport and the Granbury Airport Staff … and I wanted to know more about this $100 hamburger.
When I retold my story to Pat, he was appreciative and gave credit to the staff and their actions for earning the praise – but he wasn’t nearly as excited as I was. I wondered why, so I asked. It was then I learned that Pat and his staff monitor an airport rating site known as AirNav.Com and they see these wonderful comments on almost a daily basis. Comments like the one below.
From BJ -6/6/2021: “We flew into town to scout whether we want to move to Texas. … We received the most hospitable reception I’ve ever had at any airport big or small. The gentleman that marshaled us was polite and professional and his pup was out on the ramp and initially gave me concern … But it was very clear that this dog was a pro. The dog was completely not fazed by the aircraft and stayed clear of our path.
They had a couple of old police SUV’s that were available as loaners (overnight too!) for no cost and the terminal was very nice and very modern for any size airport, but amazing for a place this small. I cannot recommend this airport highly enough; the fuel was a little more than some of the surrounding airports, but it was worth it!
I should add that the approach isn’t typical, especially from the south. You fly over trees, power lines, and onto a narrow runway, but it was all part of the charm.”
But what about the $100 hamburger? Of all the great hamburgers in Granbury, and I’ve tried a lot of them, I have never had to pay $100. Pat let me know that it is a term used by pilots to describe a short trip. Wikipedia describes it this way.
A $100 hamburger trip typically involves flying a short distance (less than two hours), eating at an airport restaurant, and then flying home. “$100” originally referred to the approximate cost of renting or operating a light general aviation aircraft, such as a Cessna 172, for the time it took to fly round-trip to a nearby airport.
Hats off and thumbs up to our Granbury Airport staff. Keep those guests flying into Granbury in search of a $100 hamburger.
jjarratt@granbury.org
