The turnout was good for the Desert Aire Fly-in and Breakfast last Saturday, but it could be a lot better.

According to volunteer Linda Strand, the usual $2,000 was raised for support of airport maintenance.

That word "usual" got my attention. It sort of means that's about the best we can do.

I don't believe that.

When you combine the populations of Desert Aire (2,500), Mattawa (6,000), Beverly, and Schawana and everything in between, there are probably more than 10,000 people in South Grant County.

If just $1 per person were donated to the airport annually, the total would make life easier for the airport board. The community should set that as a long-range goal.

Besides, where else can you go on a nice late spring morning for a $5 breakfast of eggs, pancakes, sausage and beverage. Most coffees nowadays cost more than that.

In addition, diners get an exciting show of airplanes landing and taking off. And they can mingle through the parked airplanes.

There were 27 planes this year, including some vintage aircraft.

It's a lot of work that Strand and the other volunteers do at the breakfast, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind having to do a little more, or even lot more in the future. And they can employ more volunteers.

Why is this important, you may wonder.

It's because of what the airport means to every individual who lives in South Grant County. It's not just about leisure flying.

Without the airport, this area would truly be a remote part of Washington. Families with medical or accidental emergencies would be distressed trying to figure out how to get their family member victim to appropriate emergency treatment.

Because of the airport, those families can expect to have their family member in Seattle, Spokane or Portland within a couple of hours of the emergency. Medevac planes can land at and take off from the airport. Medevac helicopters can use the recently built helipad.

I would like to especially encourage the Hispanic/Mexican community to get involved next year. The airport is just as important to them as to anyone.

With the population mix we have today, that segment of the community probably has more emergencies than any other. Maybe Hispanic youths could take on the Fly-in as a campaign.

There were about 500 meals served at this year's breakfast. The goal for next year should be somewhere near 1,000. The Royal Register will do its part to advance that campaign.