"Maine: Jetport looks to S. Portland to expand"

Thursday, July 17, 2003

Jetport looks to S. Portland to expand 
By MARK PETERS
The Portland (ME) Press Herald


The Portland International Jetport is looking to South Portland to help
solve a space crunch.

Jetport officials want to build hangars, offices and a new fire station on
undeveloped land south of the main runway. The new construction would cater
to the jetport's general aviation sector, which includes corporate jets,
charters and private owners.

If built, the hangars and offices would be the jetport's first facility in
South Portland. The city already is home to portions of the airport's
runways. City leaders are considering rezoning a 70-acre parcel and
expanding regulations to include the use of jet fuel tanks to accommodate
the expansion project.

Right now, space for smaller planes is limited. Most airplane owners and
corporate pilots must park their planes outdoors in crowded areas along a
runway, said Jeffrey Monroe, Portland's director of ports and
transportation.

"You spend thousands of dollars on an aircraft, you want to put it in a
hangar," Monroe said.

The expansion is a way of improving services for pilots currently using the
airport, since Monroe does not expect a jump in usage following an
expansion. An average of 60 private planes use the jetport on a full-time
basis; 30 to 40 transient planes use the facilities in the summer months.

Officials also hope expansion would serve as an enticement for corporations
interested in relocating to the Portland area, according to documents filed
with the city.

The proposed expansion calls for the jetport to provide land and access to a
runway, while private companies would build and operate hangars and office
space, Monroe said.

Allyn Caruso of Maine Aviation Corp. said there is interest in the private
sector. Maine Aviation, whose services include managing corporate planes and
running a charter service, is one of at least three companies that is
talking about building hangar and office space, he said.

Caruso said corporate jet travel has become more popular due to heightened
airport security. The problem in Portland is the jets have no place to go
once they land, particularly important in winter.

In 1997, Maine Aviation considered a similar project in conjunction with the
jetport, and even won local approval. The jetport, however, had the company
hold off until it had developed a long-term plan for general aviation
services. Caruso said the demand for space has only increased over the last
six years. Maine Aviation rents hangar space at the jetport and has its
offices in an old terminal building.

"In the long run it is going to be a better deal," Caruso said of current
expansion plans.

The expansion would occur in two phases, with construction of five buildings
and two hangars beginning this spring. 

The project is part of a larger expansion and improvement plan for the
airport, which has already built a new parking garage. An expansion of
runways is under way and a passenger terminal addition is scheduled to be
built in coming years.

The Federal Aviation Administration has paid for most of the work, but did
not contribute to the new parking garage, FAA spokesman Jim Peters said.

Money for construction of taxiways to the new general aviation facility
could come from $22 million the FAA is investing in the airport, Peters
said.

The FAA helped Portland buy the property from the state on which the general
aviation expansion would take place. The FAA paid most of the $1.56 million
cost for the 70-acre parcel sandwiched between Westbrook Street and Long
Creek.

The South Portland City Council will take up the zoning changes Monday. City
officials have expressed concerns about traffic, noise and the zoning
regulation change that would allow fuel tanks as part of the expansion,
Planning Director Charles "Tex" Haeuser said.


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