Aviation View | Volume 1, Issue 2

49 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 ramps are imperative for the not so distant future – with the ideal scenario to switch from asphalt to a concrete runway at some point. Demulling describes the airport as being “quite sleepy from 1964 through 1992.” He notes, “1992 was the first major reconstruction project and that was when we opened the airport up to business traffic. We have had six or seven expansion projects since then, in terms of hangar space, and that allowed us to become self-sustaining and get off the tax rolls. That continues to be a focus for growth. We have shovel-ready sites available in the north expansion and we can have areas for as small as 50 by 50 hangars all the way up to corporate hangars in the tens of thousands of square feet. We have planned it out so that with almost no effort someone could probably start construction within just a few weeks of signing a lease. Our Airport Commission is very knowledgeable and well versed in aviation and they understand the value of a business and how to move quickly to NEW R I CHMOND REGIONAL A I RPORT capitalize on it.” To date, growth at New Richmond Regional has been completely word of mouth, something that has served the airport well, since marketing dollars are not in the budget to start a large campaign. However, as Demulling enthuses, “We do want to get the word out about how great this airport is. We are always looking for any type of aviation-related business. What I’m seeing as the hot market right now is aircraft electronics, the avionics world. There’s a huge demand for that. Most of the avionic shops still have several months worth of work ahead of them as far as the backlog and I think there’s a niche that could be filled here at the airport.” Although overall aircraft maintenance is a critical part of the industry, there is no real influx of young people getting into aviation maintenance or aircraft repair. Looking ahead, Demulling acknowledges, “Ten years down the road I think there could be a bit of a