Local News
AP airport upgrades planned
Marc Valero | Highlands Today
Published: October 16, 2012
AVON PARK Improvements are planned for the Avon Park Executive Airport, including new T-hangars and a new taxiway.Published: October 16, 2012
The Avon Park Community Redevelopment Agency approved recently to proceed with the next Florida Department of Transportation grant-funded project of constructing new hangars.
The airport's small hangers are fully occupied, said Administrative Services Director Maria Sutherland. But, some really old hangers will have to be removed for a new taxiway that will be built for safety reasons.
The new taxiway will alleviate the current ground traffic problem where planes have to either turn around on the apron or back up.
It's a little confusing sometimes for some aircraft that come in to refuel and have to turn 360 degrees. Larger jets can't make the full turn because of the space, she added.
"We had a very large jet here one day that came to get fuel," she said. "They came and parked in front of the apron because that's where you park and other little airplanes came around and it was malfunction junction."
The pilot had to back up, which is really a nightmare, Sutherland said.
Florida Aircraft Services General Manager Phil Jimenez said the hangars that will be removed are on the north side of the east-west runway.
Florida Aircraft Services Inc. is the airport's fixed-based operator.
It will make it better for corporate traffic when they come in and out and provide more aircraft parking, he said.
The Avon Park Airport has been busier recently because the Sebring Regional Airport is redoing its runways, Jimenez noted. They also see an increase during the 12 Hours of Sebring race.
"I hope they do enlarge our airport a little bit as far putting newer T-hangars in and better taxiways," he said. "It will bring in more traffic."
They are hoping to be an alternative airport for the City of Sebring, Jimenez said.
The city has 30 older T-hangars, 14 T-hangars constructed in 2003 and 14 T-hangars built in 2007.
Jimenez said they have four vacant larger T-hangers, which can accommodate twin-engine aircraft.
mvalero@highlandstoday.com (863) 386-5826