Felts Field”s economic role topic of Chamber event

Daredevil pilots like Charles Lindbergh landed and took off from Felts Field Airport during the 1920s and 1930s.

Although the field boasts a rich past, its modern amenities have attracted 15 flight-based companies.

Felts Field’s role in the local economy was the topic of a recent economic update rally, sponsored by Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and held at Mirabeau Park Hotel.

The field has paved, grass and water runways that accommodate a variety of planes, including 300 aircraft that are based at the airport, located near Millwood.

In the past five years, $3.5 million in investments were made by companies locating at the airport and improvements were made to the control tower, runways, access roads and signage, Todd Woodard of Spokane Airports said.

Moody Aviation, an arm of the Chicago-based Moody Bible Institute, is relocating its flight school from Tennessee to Felts Field.

Randy Gromlich of Moody Aviation said Felts Field is well-suited for Moody’s program, which trains missionaries to fly airplanes into third-world countries.

Felts Field offers easy access to diverse terrain, including Palouse wheat fields, which resemble East Africa’s plains and Idaho mountain ranges that are similar to the Philippines’ landscape.

Because of the region’s diverse weather, students will learn to fly through and land in rain, hail, wind and snow.

Gromlich said classes will likely start in mid-July, after construction of a training facility is complete. The school may eventually offer flight courses to the general population.

Northwest MedStar, one of the nation’s largest air medical programs, has an operations center at Felts Field.

The nonprofit transports people in rural areas to medical facilities. Since 1994, its pilots and staff have transported and treated over 24,000 patients.

As a fixed base operation, Felts Field Aviation Inc. offers everything from helicopter sales and service to rentals and charters.

Greg Goeden, Felts Field Aviation’s sales and marketing director and flight department manager, said the company recently added a new Pilatus PC12 aircraft to the fleet. The aircraft is made for luxury and accommodates up to 10 passengers.

“It’s a very personal aircraft, and it’s very well made,” he said.

Fund-raiser a hit for Spokane Valley Food Bank

Spinal and Sports Care Clinic P.S. recently held a fund-raiser to benefit the local food bank.

The group provided chiropractic and massage services to existing clients in exchange for cash or food donations. Free workshops on nutrition and acupuncture provided an added incentive to donate.

This year the office raised over $1,200 in cash and over 350 pounds of food.

Valley clinic collecting eyeglasses for the needy

Pearle Vision in Spokane Valley is hoping to improve vision across the world by collecting eyeglasses.

People can donate outdated glasses and receive a $100 savings certificate.

Donations are cleaned, repaired and classified by prescription before being distributed to people in third-world countries, through international optical missions.

The clinic is owned by Larry Breazeal, an optometrist who specializes in glaucoma management and treating vision problems in children and diabetics.

The clinic is at 509 N. Sullivan Road, Suite G. For more information, call 922-2400.