Port of Moses Lake celebrates 50 years, looks forward to next 50

MOSES LAKE — The heat of the day had given way to a welcome relief of cloud cover for the Columbia Basin locals still meandering through an amazing assortment of aircraft gathered out on the runway at the Grant County International Airport Friday as part of the 50th anniversary of the Port of Moses Lake.

The military aircraft was impressive, from the massive C-17 Globemaster used to carry troops and equipment into landlocked Afghanistan, to the KC-135 Stratotanker used in aerial refueling to the Navy’s P-3 Orion, sometimes called the Sub Hunter because of its patrol and reconnaissance capabilities, and many more.

The Boeing Company made its mark in Moses Lake training its pilots and flight crews at Larson Air Force Base. In fact, it was Boeing that introduced Japan Airlines to the Grant County Airport back in the mid-60s. Its 727 sat out on the runway, a proud representative of the history made here in central Washington.

Inside, the men who helped rally a community in danger of turning into a ghost town after the U.S. Department of Defense announced it was closing Larson Air Force Base sat proudly in the front row of dignitaries gathered to honor past achievements and talk of future events.

Col. (ret.) Clyde Owen, the last commanding officer at Larson Air Force and the first executive manager of the Port of Moses Lake, was on hand along with Dave Bailey, who became the first full-time economic development director in 1972.

It seemed only right that the 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony take place in the 65,000-square-foot-hangar built by AeroTEC to house the 90-seat Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ-90) while it goes through flight testing and certification procedures.

“Through the efforts of The Boeing Company, we have become world-renowned,” Bailey said. “Clyde and I were talking and we came up with anywhere from 350 to 400 different airlines worldwide that have used this facility during the past 50 years and that’s truly remarkable.”

Owen did not address the audience, but sat nodding his head in agreement with his good friend and colleague, with whom he worked closely from 1972 to 1984.

Bailey emphasized the importance of the Japanese business connections, the military training use and the development of the Big Bend Community College, which founded the nation’s first college-accredited flight training course.

“Boeing was really instrumental in promoting the interest in Japan Airlines using this facility,” Bailey said. “This was their primary training facility here in Grant County. What that culture has brought to this community has been phenomenal. It has promoted other Japanese interests coming here. Mitsubishi is going to be one of our attractions.”

Cpt. Kazuto Toshimitsu with Japan Airlines began his career in Moses Lake, training at the Grant County International Airport. Toshimitsu flew the last 747 out in 2009 when Japan Airlines shut down its operations.

Where Japan Airlines is the connection to the past, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. is the connection to the future and the next 50 years for the Port of Moses Lake. Hitoshi “Hank” Iwasa, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. executive vice president deputy head of Moses Lake Flight Test Center, said he is looking forward to testing the MRJ in central Washington skies.

“We can proudly say MRJ is developed in Washington state in the United States,” he said. “We promise you we’ll make our best effort to make our MRJ the best regional jet in the world. More than 200 Japanese people will be coming here to work on the project. For some of them, it will be their first time living outside Japan and we hope you make them feel as welcome as you have made us.”

Where the Port of Moses Lake has developed and promoted business interests as a driving economic force as one of 10 port districts in Grant County, the military training done here has saved lives, both at home and to servicemen and women overseas.

“The training here in Moses Lake over the years has been essential to saving lives. Planes that have trained here have flown missions on every single continent,” U.S. Air Force Col. Leonard Kosinski, commander of the 62nd Airlift Wing, said. “In order to be able to do what we do, we need places to train. There is no other place like Grant County or Moses Lake where were we can get that training. It’s an honor to meet Clyde Owen, to hear his story, to know what he’s done, both in service in the military and after that.

“Serving isn’t just about wearing the uniform. There are many different ways to serve, and even though this base shut down in 1966, that support for what we do has continued on. In the last six months, we’ve done almost 2,000 approaches in the C-17 here in Moses Lake. We’ve done 600 different air drop events and every one of those events makes our pilots and aircrew better. When it comes time to operate during a natural disaster, rescuing people out of harm’s way, we are better at doing that. I’d like to thank the Port of Moses Lake for what you’ve done here for the past 50 years.”