By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Crews from Chunchula-based S.C. Stagner Contracting, Inc. continued this week their work on the six new aircraft hangars at Atmore Municipal Airport, the first projection in a list of major improvements planned for the local airfield.
The anticipated cost of construction of the hangars is $1,440,240.45 and is 90-percent funded by a Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Grant and an Airport Infrastructure Grant. Alabama Department of Transportation is covering 5-percent of the balance, and the city has to put in 5-percent in local matching funds.
Weather permitting, the hangar project should be completed in the near future.
“They’re putting the top on them now, getting close,” Mayor Jim Staff said. “The original contract called for completion in 180 days, and they’ve been out there 133. They’re about three-fourths of the way there, right on schedule.”
Staff said each of the new aircraft hangars has already been reserved by various plane owners.
“They’re already rented, or spoken for,” he said.
Once the hangars are built, the city and officials of SkyWarrior Flight Training, the private company managing the local airport, will look to mark another item off their list of needed improvements.
“All we need now is a fuel rack, a corporate jet hangar, a new taxiway and status as an FBO (fixed-base operator),” the mayor laughed. “We need it all.”
He added that the steady improvements will enhance the capabilities and services provided at the municipal airstrip.
“It’s going to develop into something real good,” he said.