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LANETT — The owner/operator of the Blue Skies Above flight school was present at the Monday meeting of the Lanett City Council, and Council Member Tony Malone asked him to speak about a special guest that was hosted last week at the Lanett Regional Airport. Matthew Bourguignon said that Santa Claus drew a big crowd.

“We must have had three dozen parents and children lined up to meet him after he landed,” Bourguignon said.

Santa was in town for the Valley Wide Christmas Parade.

He received police escorts on his way to the airport and was treated to a flight over the parade route approximately one hour before the start of the 8 p.m. EST parade.

Santa sat to the right of pilot Joe Neil, who was leading three Cessna 172s in a V formation.

After a safe landing, Santa thanked the crowd of well wishers who had gathered to see him off on the flight and greeted him on his safe return. He was then driven to the lining up of the parade by Chambers County Sheriff Jeff Nelson.

Bourguignon is one of nine certified flight instructors with the Blue Skies Above school.

The current class is full and there’s a waiting list for students who are eager to learn how to fly an airplane.

The instructors agree that the Lanett airport is a great facility but that some more work needs to be done for it to meet its potential.

The taxiway needs to be completed and jet fuel needs to be based there before business-class jets will be making frequent landings there. There’s broad agreement that Lanett Regional will be an ideal backup airport for the very busy airport in Auburn.

At present, Montgomery is Auburn’s backup site. Lanett is much closer.