OXFORD, Miss. – The University\/Oxford Airport (UOX) at Clegg Field
\naverages approximately 20 aircraft operations on a daily basis. That
\nnumber soared to more than 200 on Friday, the day the University of
\nMississippi hosted the first 2008 presidential debate.<\/p>\n
“Oh my, there were so many planes,” said Elizabeth Luna, a UOX airport
\nlineman. “I stopped counting after a while. I didn’t have time.”<\/p>\n
By 2 p.m. Friday, six hours before John McCain and Barack Obama took
\nthe stage at the Ford Center, all rentable aircraft parking was sold
\nout at the airport. Planes were allowed to drop off passengers, but
\npilots were then directed to fly to other locations to park.
\n
“In the three years I’ve been here, I’ve never seen so many aircraft land and take off,” Luna said. “We had more than 200 flight operations that day.”<\/p>\n
In terms of fuel, UOX raked in an estimated $40,000, the largest single day of revenue in memory. More than 8,000 gallons of fuel was sold, forcing airport employees to refill their 3,000-gallon tanker truck twice that day.<\/p>\n
Jeff McManus, airport operations director, said he continues to receive favorable comments, both verbal and written, indicating the high level of customer service the staff provided. He said that’s quite a feat, especially when dealing with that many visitors who had certain demands and high expectations.<\/p>\n
“The staff performed marvelously from fueling and parking planes to helping with multiple questions about the debate and Oxford,” McManus said. “Their teamwork and cooperation are a direct result of the fine leadership of our airport manager, Mac McManus. His ability to empower his group of dedicated employees has made UOX one of Mississippi’s finest airports.”<\/p>\n
In her limited down time, Luna was able to star watch. She recalled eyeing many U.S. congressman as well as various media stars. She even saw Michelle Obama.<\/p>\n
“She got off the plane, and the Secret Service immediately escorted her to the car,” Luna said. “She didn’t even have time to wave.”<\/p>\n
Oxford residents living near the airport couldn’t help but hear the hubbub all day long and into the night. The last flight departed UOX just before 4 a.m. Saturday. And if anyone is curious as to what type of aircraft was responsible for the continuous hovering roar over Oxford that day, Luna said it was the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Huey helicopter, the most widely used military helicopter in the world.<\/p>\n
“They were here to help patrol the skies,” Luna said.<\/p>\n
With an annual budget of $1.4 million, UOX is publicly owned and operated by the university. Clegg Field sits 452 feet above sea level, and includes the 6,000-plus square foot Rayner Terminal.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"