COLLEGEDALE — The Collegedale city commission voted to establish an airport advisory board on July 20, 2026. The body will advise on operations while elected officials maintain final authority over airport matters.

The Collegedale Airport Advisory Board will consist of five members elected by the city commission. The Collegedale Airport Advisory Board's purpose is to provide help and guidance, while city commissioners retain final decision-making authority. There are no special requirements, such as pilot status or flight experience, to qualify for the Collegedale Airport Advisory Board. City Manager Jon Holmes, Airport Director Ryan Byford, and one yet-to-be-named commissioner will serve as non-voting guides for the airport advisory board.

"People with backgrounds other than pilots could bring a different perspective to the airport advisory board," Commissioner Tim Johnson said. The creation of the board follows a year of physical upgrades to the municipal airfield. The Collegedale city commission approved and funded the airport improvement work.

The city of Collegedale has been updating the Collegedale Airport for the past year. The Collegedale Airport terminal has been remodeled inside and out. The Collegedale Airport runway, hangars, and other facilities have been improved. Approaches to the Collegedale Airport runways have been cleared of obstructions. The Collegedale Airport now has a fuel truck that can carry jet fuel to planes.

The establishment of the advisory board occurs after the Collegedale City Commission previously faced significant debt and operational challenges at the airport. These issues stemmed from a stagnant business model and financial mismanagement under prior leadership, as documented in a 2025 workshop packet. The new board structure aims to provide formalized input on airport operations without removing elected oversight. City commissioners will continue to hold the power to make final decisions regarding the facility.