Yellowhammer Times

The Alabama Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Bureau recently conducted inspections at Enterprise Municipal Airport and the Flowers Hospital helipad in Dothan. These routine checks are part of efforts to maintain safety and reliability across Alabama's aviation network.

Mark Bowron, an Aeronautics Specialist with the Bureau, emphasized the importance of these inspections. "Enterprise Municipal is a critical access point for general aviation and business travel in southeast Alabama," he said. The inspection focused on runway conditions, pavement markings, lighting systems, taxiways, and approach clearances to ensure safe takeoffs and landings.

Enterprise Municipal Airport supports regional commerce, agriculture, military-related travel, flight training, and medical transport helicopters. With its single asphalt runway and increasing aviation operations, maintaining high safety standards is essential.

In Dothan, inspectors evaluated Flowers Hospital's helipad. They checked pad conditions, clearances, lighting, and visibility to ensure safe helicopter landings at any time. "Hospital helipads like the one at Flowers are lifelines," Bowron added. "A safe and compliant helipad can make the difference in a life-or-death emergency."

Alabama has 78 public-use airports, 38 private-use airports, and over 130 hospital and private-use helipads. The Aeronautics Bureau works year-round to ensure compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and state safety guidelines. These inspections are part of broader efforts to keep Alabama's skies safe and communities connected.

Information from this article can be found here.