from staff
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority has begun construction on a new 21,000-square-foot aircraft hangar at Cecil Field to meet the aviation needs of Northeast Florida.
The $2 million spec hangar is the first new hangar built by the JAA since it took ownership of Cecil Field from the Navy in 1999. Completion is expected in late fall 2009.
The hangar, which is being constructed by Jacksonville-based Hashman Construction Inc., is located directly in front of an existing 13,000 square-foot building that can be converted into office and shop space.
“This new hangar and the adjoining administrative building are aimed at the aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul industry,” said Bob Simpson, senior director of Cecil Field. “All eight existing hangars at Cecil Field are fully leased and we’ve had steady inquiries into available hangar space at Cecil. Our board felt it was time to move forward with this project and test the market.”
With access to air and rail connections and a deep water port, Cecil Field’s facilities are desirable for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations and a variety of aviation-related industrial and commercial development.
Cecil Field also provides a base of operations for corporate aircraft, general aviation, air cargo and National Guard and Reserve aviation. The airport assets include four runways with full length parallel taxiways, 40 major buildings totaling 1.5 million square feet including hangar, warehouse, industrial and general-use space, and 537,000 square yards of aircraft parking apron.
Current tenants at Cecil Field include Flightstar, Boeing, Jet Turbine Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Army National Guard, Jacksonville Jetport, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Logistic Services International, L3 Communications, Fleet Readiness Center-Southeast and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Alenia North America is expected to break ground on a $100 million military aircraft assembly facility later this year.