Aviation View | April 2021

139 AVIATION VIEW APRIL 2021 wingspan. The engineer designed these to meet the demands of some of the people on our wait list that were requesting a larger wingspan than anything we could accommodate. Those hangars were just completed in November and the tenants moved in on December 1st 2020. Emmett Sap Builders, did an amazing job and now that people have seen the hangars, I already have 16 people on a waiting list for a spot if one opens.” The airport property is vast – over 850 acres – and all of the building has taken place in one quadrant along the 441 corridor. Given that much of that area is wetlands and lacks utility infrastructure, there are certainly building challenges to be overcome. But there are definite possibilities for building on the south side of the airport in the future. Dean admits, “It all comes down to funding and what grants are available and the matching funds that the airport has to contribute. That being said, there are always opportunities for private investors and the city does have the support of the economic development team at the county level to promote the airport to businesses and individuals in that regard.” The Leesburg International Airport Master Plan was created in 2019 and covers the next 20 years. The plan outlines forward motion, as well as the higher priorities at the time – including runway, taxiway, and control tower work, in addition to other construction plans. In essence, it is a living document. However, as Dean notes, “Things change all the time and we have to be realistic about what’s possible. It is all well and good to have construction plans, but if a runway or taxiway gets chewed up and is in disrepair, that is going to take priority on your schedule. Everything gets rearranged.” There are some projects in the works that have been a long time coming. Dean is happy to report, “We are towards the end of the design phase of rehabbing our main apron, which is front and center to the airfield where most of the commercial businesses are located. It is also how everybody gets from their individual T-hangars to the airfield, so that main apron sees a lot of traffic. The design will not only improve the movement, but also make it safer. This is the area where a lot of the tie downs are located; they’re literally three hooks in the pavement for the tail and the wings. The people who rent the space just move the plane and leave their car parked there. We’re going to change that configuration to create a better traffic flow of aircraft and vehicles, because vehicles also share the ramp. The main ramp has some of the worst pavement and we need to get it redone.” Another project currently underway is a remodelling of the Customs Office. When the office was constructed in 2005, it was a relatively small space of just 1600 square feet. The building has been well maintained, although, to comply with the latest facility standards requirements, work must be done to ensure the safety of the customs officers who work there LEESBURG INTERNAT IONAL A I RPORT