Racetrack thrusts Newton Airport into action

Ethan Nasalroad is usually grounded on race weekends.

Instead of taking to the skies, the president of Johnson Aviation, Inc. spends most of his time at the Newton Municipal Airport – Earl Johnson Field, greeting and assisting visitors arriving for an action-packed weekend at Iowa Speedway. The runway’s proximity to the track is pivotal for both fans and participants.

Staff at the airport are well-prepared, too. Beneath the main office windowsill, whose view overlooks the runway, are several keys for rental cars parked out front. Fuel trucks are ready to roll. By the end of the weekend, a single speadsheet noting all the arriving planes may be marked from top to bottom.

“So for the next two to three days we’ll have four regional jets in and out, and then by Saturday we’ll have about 20 to 30 aircraft on the ramp,” Nasalroad said Thursday afternoon. “They’re all going to leave at the same time. And that’s going to be at about 12:30 in the morning on Sunday.”

All the while the airport’s charter business and aerial applicators are functioning as normal, too. Nasalroad said it’s “all hands on deck” during race weekends. This past weekend was actually busier than normal. The doubleheader IndyCar Series races is bringing in more regional traffic, “which is great,” Nasalroad said.

To make things even more challenging, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the airport staff to wear masks and limit the building access to flight crews and people picking up rental cars. The sculpture of Fred Maytag II is even sporting one, as well as a sign thanking visitors for wearing their masks.

Typically, the airport schedules a barbecue but had to cancel it because of the pandemic restrictions. Staff members are regularly cleaning and sanitizing surfaces. The front office also is equipped with plexiglass barriers. Regardless, staff was able to assist guests in a speedy manner. Perfect for race weekend.

Newton Municipal Airport’s relationship to Iowa Speedway is an important one. Nasalroad said the airport put a lot of emphasis on improving its infrastructure to accommodate for race weekend traffic. Without an apron extension, the airport would struggle to handle the traffic.

“If we couldn’t handle this traffic, they wouldn’t be here,” Nasalroad said. “We try to work in partnership with (the Iowa Speedway) over the years. We want to make sure we’re complementing the track. The airport is a huge asset to not only the community but the races as well. So we want to try and meet their needs.”

Two less race weekends this year does hurt the Newton Municipal Airport. However, the IndyCar races were shaping up to be a big weekend for the airport from what Nasalroad could tell so far. It’s a “nice shot in the arm” for the airport. By Saturday night, Nasalroad anticipated most of the ramp to be full.

Which is something he probably would not have expected during a pandemic.

“It feels good in a time where things have been wacky,” Nasalroad said. “It feels like we’re firing on all eight cylinders again. Feels like a little bit of normal.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com