It is a pace that is slowly growing quicker. Planes come and go at Mckinney National airport.
It's a smaller airport by DFW standards, but now it's primed for bigger things.
We've had an increase in operations over the last six months.
As the Wright Amendment frees up Dallas Love Field…Mckinney National and the 10 other general aviation reliever airports in DFW may soon see an uptick in operations.
Last year there were 88,600 take-offs and landings.
This year, that number is expected to rise to 97,600.
Before the Wright amendment even expires, smaller airports are jockeying for position. Mckinney National has about 16 business accounts with the hopes of luring more as the repeal comes up.
"We're offering an alternative to the business aircraft that need to keep their schedules," said Boyd Roberts, who has been flying for 35 years. "And keeping schedule may be tough when the runways are lined by big commercial airlines."
Roberts has spent all those years flying both private and business. He sees a real opportunity for the smaller airports.
"I'd really rather have minimal time on the taxiway to get to the runway. It's just better," he said. "It's still very early before we see an exodus from Dallas Love Field, if it even happens. But the wheels are starting to turn.
"I'd say we're working with four solid prospects."
That's good news for an airport growing, and with room to grow.
