Selfs Airport, A Local Asset For Emergency Response And Development

Selfs Airport, FAA identifier MMS, is Quitman County owned and functions as the county public use airport serving Marks and surrounding communities. Located about two miles southwest of the city, the field has a single asphalt runway designated 02 slash 20 with published dimensions near 3,346 feet by 70 feet. Those physical limits mean the airport supports light general aviation aircraft while routinely excluding larger transports from regular operations.

Federal Aviation Administration records and airport planning pages list the county as owner, and they publish manager contact information for operational coordination. Communications and weather references are available in the published facility data, including common traffic advisory frequency and pointers to nearby automated weather observing and METAR reporting stations. In recent FAA cycles instrument procedure publications such as RNAV approaches were issued for the field, a change that makes the airport more usable in marginal weather and expands options for pilots who need more reliable access.

The airport plays several practical roles for Quitman County. It provides a landing point for private and business flights, and it is an asset in medevac and emergency response planning. Local emergency planners can use the field for logistics staging and patient transport coordination, but the runway length constrains the types of aircraft that can land, which in turn affects the county s planning for larger scale emergency airlift or specialized medical flights. The airport also factors into economic development discussions, offering a connectivity option for small business travel and for aviation related tourism projects that seek convenient local access.

Policy implications for county officials are clear. As owner and operator, Quitman County bears responsibility for routine maintenance, runway condition assessments, and for deciding whether to pursue facility upgrades. Published instrument procedures improve operational value, but sustaining that value depends on surface condition and safety investments. Those decisions have budgetary consequences and may require engagement with federal and state funding sources that support airport improvements.

Institutionally, the airport underscores the balance between local control and regional coordination. County boards and local emergency agencies will need to weigh investment priorities against other pressing needs in the community. Civic engagement matters because residents and local businesses influence priorities through participation in public meetings and in budgeting and oversight processes. For residents, the key considerations are straightforward. Maintaining Selfs Airport preserves a local asset that supports emergency readiness and economic connectivity, while also obliging the county to plan realistically for the field s physical limitations and future funding needs.