by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
At least four major construction projects will be underway at Cecil Field next year marking the 10th anniversary of the City of Jacksonville taking ownership of the former Master Jet Base from the U. S. Navy.
“Right now we have no capacity to lease to any more tenants. All of our hangar space is occupied,” said Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) Director of External Affairs Michael Stewart at Monday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville. He was there to give the club an update on all of JAA’s airport operations and began by saying, “I know you hear a lot about Craig Field, but we have more (airports) than that.”
The assembly facility for the Alenia C27J aircraft, was at first designed on a 25-acre site, but in the time since the Italian airplane builder decided to build a facility in Jacksonville, the decision was made to close the firm’s assembly plant in Europe to consolidate operations at Cecil Field. Alenia has a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide dozens of the high-performance cargo airplanes that will be used by all branches of the U. S. Armed Forces.
“It’s up to 43 acres now and when it’s finished Cecil Field will be Alenia’s primary site in the world,” said Stewart.
Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) also will break ground in 2009 for what Stewart called a “maintenance, repair and overhaul facility” or MRO. Part of the structure will house a three-bay aircraft coating shop where students will learn how to paint airplanes.
“It will make a great combination with Alenia,” said Stewart. “When the aircraft are assembled, they can go to the MRO and be painted.”
JAA will begin construction of two new “spec” hangars next year, one 60,000 square feet and one 20,000 square feet that will be available for future tenants.
The FlightStar facility at Cecil Field has also expanded its operations since setting up shop four years ago. Stewart said the company converts passenger aircraft into cargo carriers and has grown from, “about a dozen employees when they opened to now more than 500.” He also said FlightStar recently inked a new contract with FedEx.
As for Craig Airport, Stewart said JAA is still firmly convinced one of the two runways at the Arlington facility should be lengthened by 1,600 feet for safety reasons. He said he thinks it’s “50-50 that the runway will be extended, but we will continue to talk to the neighbors. In my personal opinion, I think infrastructure needs to grow with the community and airports are infrastructure.”
Stewart pointed out the National Guard has moved its squadron of helicopters from Craig Airport to Cecil Field in order to reduce noise in the surrounding residential areas.
At Jacksonville International Airport, the new Concourse C is scheduled to open in November and Stewart said by next June, the $350 million expansion and improvement project that began at JIA 10 years ago will be complete.
The baggage handling system at JIA has been a hit with travelers.
“JIA was the first airport in the country to implement inline screening, so you can drop off your baggage at the curb or at the ticket counter. It’s screened for security then it’s put on the aircraft.
“It’s a closed system. Your luggage might not be where you want it to be but it’s never lost,” joked Stewart.
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