Fallon Municipal Airport Marks New Era

The Fallon Municipal Airport marked a new chapter Tuesday as city leaders, aviation partners, and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating long-awaited improvements to the airport’s facilities and the arrival of a new fixed-base operator.

The event, held March 17 at the airport, highlighted recent upgrades to the fixed-base operator (FBO) building and recognized the transition of airport operations to Flyin’ Tiz Aviation LLC.

Aviation businesses and supporters attended the ceremony, as well as City of Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford, council members Karla Kent, Paul Harmon, and Kelly Frost, along with Churchill County Sheriff Richard Hickox and Judge Benjamin Trotter. Yerington Mayor John Garry and Councilman Omar Lopez also came over for the celebration.

The improvements coincide with the Fallon City Council’s recent approval of a 10-year contract with Tisdale’s company, Flyin’ Tiz Aviation LLC, to serve as the airport’s fixed-base operator. Under the contract, the company will provide services previously handled by Fallon Airmotive LLC, including aviation fuel sales and maintaining staffed office space at the airport.

Flyin’ Tiz Aviation will operate out of the city-owned transient aircraft hangar known as Hangar A2, often referred to locally as the “drum hangar.” The agreement includes an initial 10-year term with the option to renew for two additional five-year terms if contractual obligations are met.

Following the council vote earlier this month, Flyin’ Tiz Aviation owner Anthony Tisdale thanked city officials and introduced members of his team, describing the transition as a significant undertaking.

During Tuesday’s ceremony, Tisdale credited the airport’s role in the community and recognized the legacy of longtime airport operator Walt Wardwell, who ran the facility for decades and whose work as a Certified Flight Instructor and aviation professional helped build the local aviation community.

“For everyone in the Fallon community that flies airplanes or has been affiliated with the airport, it would be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t flown with or taken lessons from Walt Wardwell,” Tisdale said. “He taught me how to fly and taught a lot of other people how to fly.”

Tisdale said the new operators intend to build on that legacy rather than replace it.

Much of the renovation work to the airport’s facilities was completed through hands-on effort from the small team now managing operations.

“We didn’t really have the money to hire a bunch of contractors and spend a ton of cash,” Tisdale said, acknowledging the hard work of several others, including General Manager Bryanna Travis and his mother, Rochelle Tisdale. “We worked really hard to take what we had and make the best of it.”

Bryanna Travis also spoke, thanking several airport partners and aviation services operating from the facility, including Titan Fuels, Silver Sage Aviation, Frey Spray, REMSA CareFlight at Banner Hospital, Ugalde Aviation, and the Fallon Muni Flyers.

She said the airport has been working with Western Nevada College to expand aviation training opportunities and build a pipeline for future pilots. In addition, the airport plans to host a youth aviation summer camp in June through the Operation Aviation Foundation for students ages 12 to 16 interested in aviation.

“We are working on expanding our aviation training through that program and building a pilot pipeline through them,” Travis said.

Tisdale also took a moment to thank Mayor Ken Tedford.

“We really appreciate all of his support. This could not have been possible without him trusting us to take on this venture and try to make Fallon Airport a little better.”

Mayor Tedford said the improvements represent a significant step forward for the airport and for the community.

“I think it shows a lot of support for what they’re trying to do at the airport,” Tedford said. “From what Anthony and his team have done in just several weeks, we know great things are coming ahead.”

Tedford noted that city leaders and local pilots have spent years working with the Federal Aviation Administration to secure grants for runway, taxiway, and infrastructure improvements at the airport. Those grants typically follow a federal funding structure where the FAA covers about 94% of project costs and local partners contribute the remaining share.

For city leaders and airport operators, the improvements already underway signal renewed momentum at the facility and an opportunity to strengthen Fallon’s role in regional aviation.

“We’re the gateway to Fallon,” Tisdale said. “And we want people to show up in Fallon; we want them to see a nice building… and realize this is a classy place. It’s a good place to live. It’s a good place to come spend money at local businesses and to want to come back here.”