Our View: Williamson County Regional Airport deserves public support, congratulations for winning "Airport of the Year" honors.

It is said in aviation circles the pulse of any community can be taken at the airport.

That view is shared by Doug Kimmel, manager of Williamson County Regional Airport, which last week received the 2009 Airport of the Year Award from the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Aeronautics.

There are much larger, busier airports in Illinois, but Williamson County Regional Airport was evaluated by the same criteria used to judge all 11 of the state's commercial service airports. That includes Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago Midway Airport, and larger airports in Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Bloomington, Champaign and Moline.

Criteria for the selection include safety record, maintenance, and cooperation and coordination with the Division of Aeronautics and Federal Aviation Administration.

The Airport of the Year award is a great honor for the local airport, but even more impressive because this is the second time Williamson County Regional Airport won the top award in the last four years. As Kimmel said Wednesday, when you've won the top award as recently as 2006 you're not planning to win it again so soon.

"We weren't expecting it, but we certainly were pleased," Kimmel said. "In particular, it's such a positive reflection on the hard work of our staff."

It also reflects well on the airport's commitment to planning for the future it desires, not simply addressing prevailing conditions. The Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, Kimmel and his staff are focused on the potential and promise of Williamson County Regional Airport.

Our national recession has been tough on Southern Illinois. Talk to anyone operating a community food pantry if you want further proof. The economic downtown has been tough for aviation, too, and the downward trend in passenger boarding offers ample proof.

But those are temporary obstacles, not permanent barriers. The local airport considers the top airport award as an affirmation for their vision - a vote of confidence.

"It speaks very well for our plans for the future," Kimmel said.

Today's airport offers three daily flights to St. Louis via Great Lakes Airlines. There are hopes of improving business for connecting flights from Great Lakes, and the local airport, by instead offering air service to O'Hare. Kimmel said the idea of adding another carrier and offering passenger service to another regional hub, perhaps Memphis, also has been discussed.

Air cargo also holds great potential or the airport, which has an 8,000-foot runway and easy access to Interstate 57 from Illinois 13. As the economy of Southern Illinois rebounds, perhaps in step with a state capital construction plan offering hope and jobs for the region, the airport's cargo business is destined to expand.

Pardon the expression, but things are looking up for Williamson County Regional Airport. Bids will be sought in June for a taxiway project on the western side of the airport, land has been acquired to the east and improvements have been made to the north. Kimmel said word spreads quickly in the aviation business, so there is reason to believe continuing improvements and a history of excellence will build interest in the airport.

Williamson County Regional Airport is an asset for all of Southern Illinois, both for the services it offers today and for the role in will play in economic development of our region. The people behind the airport, including the Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, Kimmel and his staff deserve congratulations and public support for their efforts.