August 12, 2021

Kevin Meikle, Director of Aviation of the Fresno Yosemite Airport

1 hour

Today we have Kevin Meikle on the show. As Director of Aviation of the Fresno Yosemite Airport, Mr. Meikle is the Chief Executive Officer Central California’s aviation system, which includes Fresno Yosemite International and Fresno Chandler Executive airports. FAT is a small hub airport served by seven domestic and two international airlines. FAT has enjoyed 70% growth since the Great Recession in 2010, accommodates 2,000,000 passengers annually and continues to grow. Chandler is the largest general aviation airport in Central California and serves as a reliever to FAT. Mr. Meikle has served Fresno airports for 19 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, is a licensed architect, and has over 40 years of experience in the design and construction industry. Mr. Meikle is also an instrument rated pilot and has been flying for 35 years.

Topics Covered:

Where do you like to eat in Fresno?

French anthropologist Marc Auge categorised the airport as a “non-place”. They are places with no identity. Do you agree with this statement?

How might an architect think about running an airport differently than someone with a background as a pilot?

When you visit a new airport, what are some attributes that you’d look for in trying to determine whether an airport is designed well?

How do you see the future of general aviation and commercial aviation fitting together within a single airport or do you think airports need to focus on one or the other?

What is the process of courting a carrier like Southwest like?

Overrated and Underrated Airports

How does strategy differ between large airports and smaller, regional airports?

Pilot training programs and the market for pilots

What are some resources or books you'd want to share with listeners?

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By Jordan Mattox

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