Harry P. Williams Memorial reopens after runway work

For the first time in six months, it’s wheels down again at Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport near Patterson.
The airport’s single runway reopened again at 5 p.m. Monday after an asphalt overlay project that began in November. The Federal Aviation Administration checked the airports instrument landing system.
The reopening of the runway sent Ken Perry, owner of Perry Flying Center, to his contact list to let customers know the airport is open again.
“Now my job is to get up and running and tell them to come back home,” Perry said.
On Tuesday, Perry said, “We’ve had general aviation and helicopters, and we had some jets today.”
The $3.5 million overlay of the 5,399-foot runway was funded by the Federal Aviation Administration through the state Department of Transportation and Development on a 90-10 basis, with local government picking up 10% of the cost.
The FAA closed the runway and the taxiway during the work.
It was the first resurfacing at the airport since 2009.
Perry said he’s glad the airport was opened before hurricane season. Now the Coast Guard and the National Guard can bring in people if the search and rescue operations are needed.