Longtime aviation buff lands in Grant County

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2009

JOHN DAY – Colin English just got to town last week, but already he and his family feel “at home.”

English is the new manager of the Grant County Regional Airport, located on the bluff above John Day.

He arrived Wednesday, April 15, and got right to work, tackling daily chores at the airport and getting acquainted with the design team working on the new airport terminal.

“The transition has been really great,” he said. “The county’s been wonderful, and the airport staff have been generous with their time, helping me get adjusted.”

English succeeds Gary Judd in the post. Judd left after 15 years to take the manager’s job at the Bend Municipal Airport.

English said he’s excited to take over the local airport.

“One of the attractions was that this is a great airport that really serves the aviation needs, and the needs of the community,” he said. “It’s got some of the best runways in the region.”

The airport’s two runways recently were extended in a project funded by ConnectOregon II, and a taxiway improvement project is under way.

The existing terminal – a residential structure – is due to be replaced in the coming year by a new building that will house both airport operations and a Forest Service fire base.

In addition, English said, the county will be filing the paperwork soon for a $450,000 project to upgrade the runway lighting system. That project, funded by stimulus dollars, will give pilots control over the lighting and better visibility when approaching the airport.

English said he’s looking forward to working with the airport commission.

“This is a great group here – they’re pilots and members of the community who really support the airport,” he said. “We’re really lucky here.”

English comes to aviation work naturally. He grew up on an Air Force base.

“I was that kid down at Base Ops, hanging on the fence, watching the fighters,” he said.

Later, he put off college to join the Air Force, and he became an air controller, stationed in Minot, N.D.

After the service, his path took him to Eastern Oregon. He was a weather observer for the National Weather Service in Baker City and did similar work for a time in Great Falls, Mont.

English went back to school after his efforts to become an FAA air traffic controller were stalled by the lack of a degree. In 1998 he graduated from Central Washington University in Ellensburg with a degree in aviation management.

He also trained to be a pilot, and completed his instrument rating.

In 2000, he went to work at Boeing and Paine Field, the nation’s largest aviation maintenance facility, as a fueling supervisor. After a brief stint in Aspen, Colo., he returned to the Seattle area to be the safety and security manager for Menzies Aviation.

The economic downturn brought a restructuring of the company, and English was laid off in June 2008. In the ensuing months, he applied for about 500 jobs – just about anything that might fit his qualifications.

“Aviation jobs are few and far between,” he said.

He nearly overlooked the Grant County job, though, because it wasn’t advertised as widely as some others. He found the listing through the state employment agency – and it was an “aha” moment.

“I knew my family and I would like it here,” he said, noting that he already knew of John Day from an old friend who lives here.

He especially liked the prospect of working in a small airport and a close community.

“I’m really looking forward to getting involved,” he said.

English and his wife Philena quickly found a house to rent, and settled in with son Owen, 4. A daughter, Kaitlin, 18, remains in the Seattle area where she is going to start community college.

Philena is a smoking cessation counselor, and is able to work on contract from home. She originally is from Palmer, Alaska, English noted, so she feels comfortable with the small-town attributes of Grant County.

Little Owen is enjoying his new home.

“He’s excited – he’s already seen deer in the back yard,” said English. “And he’s a rock turner. He loves to turn rocks over to look for bugs.”

The family brought along their cat and two pet chickens.