Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
The Sidney Airport Authority Board continues toward construction of new hangars at the airport.
The board has been working toward adding new hangars at the facility with the goal of drawing more air traffic and pilots who would house their aircraft at the airport. The challenge is the funding; even more so with prices increasing in recent months.
The board met with Jeff Wolfe of McSchaff and Associates on Thursday, Oct. 14, to discuss updates on the hangar plans. The plan is for construction of one building with eight T-hangars, 60 feet wide and 200 feet long. The expected location of the building is the northwest area of the airport near the terminal. The proposal has the building insulated with heat in each hangar. The renter will be responsible for the utilities cost, and the airport for the base fee when a hangar is unoccupied.
One of the concerns is if the state fire marshal will require a fire rated separation wall between hangars. Wolfe said if the hangars are used for storage only, and not for commercial power use, there shouldn't be an issue.
“When we get into the design phase, as long as each of these bays are for storage only, the fire marshal won't have a problem,” he said.
Wolfe said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has Sidney's project scheduled for 2022.
“The anticipation is all this work will be done next year,” he said.
Construction of the building is expected to cost about $900,000. The airport authority has about $730,000 available through the FAA.
“You have to cover at least 10 percent of that,” Wolfe said.
If the Airport Authority Board chooses to delay construction of the hangars, for example submitted bids are higher than the board will accept, the board will still be responsible for the engineering fees.
L & L Aviation approached the board about purchasing a newer pickup truck with a blade for snow removal. The proposed purchase doesn't have to be carpeted and low miles, according to George Lapaseotes, manager of L & L Aviation and the Sidney airport. The goal is a pickup capable of moving snow and other duties on the airport grounds more efficiently than the 1976 F600 Ford truck, the oldest pickup truck at the airport. Ideally, the L & L Aviation would locate a 1-ton gas-powered pickup, automatic transmission, and a new blade to be installed on it, within $30,000 to $40,000.
The proposal was approved by the board with Lapaseotes encouraged to purchase the snow blade as soon as possible. The board also approved the purchase of two tractor tires.
The board also approved work on the house at the airport. Lapaseotes reported a bedroom window leaking, and a contractor reporting a new roof cap would seal the leak at a cost of $879.50. The work was approved by the board.
Reader Comments(0)