Bowers Field Has New Facility, On Verge Of Rejuvenation

Aaron Greear wanted to fly airplanes as a kid, but as the saying goes for so many in aviation, “life happened.” But somehow along the way, during a successful career as a mechanical engineer in the family paving and industrial construction business, he got his private ticket. Then he bought an airplane but had no place to hangar it at his hometown Bowers Field Airport (KELN) in Ellensburg, Washington.

So, with Aaron’s aviation background and both he and his brother Joel with construction experience, they made the leap and approached the airport owner, Kittitas County, in 2022 with a plan for a new FBO.

Aaron said, “I like to build things.”

And today, Mount Stuart Aviation, formerly Aviation Services, Inc., is a Phillips 66-branded FBO with competitively priced fuels, along with a fully-stocked refrigerator similar to a convenience store and a self-serve kiosk that pilots can purchase meals, snacks, and pilot supplies. It also has a pilot lounge with large-screen movies and a library with Greear’s personal book collection, a snooze room, and a courtesy car.

Aaron explained, “We had the background of construction and building buildings combined with my background in aviation, and we’ve been in this community our whole lives, so the stars kind of aligned. It was the perfect time to do what we did in Ellensburg.”

“We really wanted to make sure our FBO accommodated anybody traveling through,” explains Greear. “I probably have 800 hours of cross-country flight time, and I take notes at every FBO that I stop at. I take notes of what an FBO had that was awesome or missing features, and I tried to incorporate everything I learned, having traveled the country visiting different FBOs.”

He went on, “Some things really make no practical sense, but I remember, for example, the FBOs that had a fireplace, which is really cool. So, I’m building one at our FBO.”

One of the beneficial side effects of the new facility is it’s in a position to begin significantly reinvigorating the 81-year old airport, along with strengthening community ties and involvement, something Greear envisioned for the project since he didn’t really have that as a kid.

“Being able to build a facility that allows the community, especially kids, to come out on a weekend, see the operations and check out an airplane, might spark that desire to grow up and pursue aviation,” Aaron explained.

FMI:  www.co.kittitas.wa.us/