Roswell airport reports United service timeline, recounts Dec. 4 hangar fire under ATF review
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Summary
Airport staff told the City Council that United-related service is progressing (SkyWest training Dec. 15; flights expected Feb. 17), reviewed a Nov. 20 diverted-flight response, demonstrated a new inspection app, and recounted a Dec. 4 fire at historic Building 66 now under ATF investigation.
Airport Deputy Director Omar Gonzales told the council the city has had multiple site visits from United and its partners as the airport explores renewed commercial service. Gonzales said SkyWest will begin training employees Dec. 15 and that United-marketed flights are being targeted to start Feb. 17; tickets are already on sale, he said.
Gonzales also described the city’s response to a Nov. 20 flight diverted to Roswell. Staff coordinated emergency lodging, rides and meals for stranded passengers; airport operations supervisor Paul Vigil personally procured pizzas for travelers and staff assisted with transportation to hotels and onward connections. Gonzales praised the “teamwork and hospitality” of airport staff and local volunteers who helped that night.
The airport team demonstrated a new mobile inspection app intended to replace pen-and-paper logs. The app maps lights and infrastructure, creates work orders for failed fixtures (lights, cracks, wildlife hazards) and tracks repeat failures to guide prioritization. Gonzales said GPS tagging is being added so electricians can identify frequently failing lights and reduce repeat repairs.
On the subject of a Dec. 4 fire at Building 66 — an original Walker Air Force Base hangar — Gonzales gave a first-hand account of large flames and extensive firefighter efforts. He said the building was severely damaged, that mutual-aid departments and Air Force staff assisted with scene management, and that ATF is leading the cause investigation. Mayor Jennings confirmed the city is coordinating public communication with ATF’s public information officer and that an insurance investigator will visit under ATF supervision.
Why it matters: restored commercial service could increase passenger traffic and economic activity at the Roswell Air Center, but the airport’s longer-term reliability depends on infrastructure maintenance (lighting vaults and runway systems) and clear disaster-response procedures for incidents like the hangar fire. The council asked staff to continue outreach to carriers and to report back with contingency plans for both passenger operations and critical infrastructure failures.
What’s next: SkyWest training begins Dec. 15; staff expect the first marketed flights Feb. 17. The city said it will publish ATF findings when they are available and will continue coordinating follow-up with other agencies.
