CAA: GA News, "DeKalb, Illinois airport to extend its legs"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tuesday, October 8, 2002 

Airport to extend its legs
DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport plans construction by fall 2003
By Joseph Martillaro 
The DeKalb (IL) Northern Star


The DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport is attempting to bring more
corporate jets and big business to DeKalb. 

With a new east-west runway and a heavy aircraft parking area, the
airport is booming and shows no signs of slowing down. 

The airport's biggest improvement will be the extension of the main
north-south runway to accommodate larger corporate jets. 

"Presently, it just isn't sufficient for the heavy corporate jets to
take off when it's hot out," Airport Manager Tom Cleveland said. 

The problem with the current runway is that bigger jets are unable to
fully fuel up and take off -- the runway simply is too short. 

"With the new extension, planes will be able to take off with full fuel
and full loads," Cleveland said. 

Cleveland explained that this new addition would bring the city new
revenue on the sales tax of the jet fuel and the attraction of more
businesses to DeKalb. 

"We are trying to make this a great general aviation and corporate
airport," Cleveland added. 

Pleasant Street will have to be routed toward Barber Green Road to
accommodate the extension. Roadwork will begin this fall and is expected
to be completed by next spring. 

Following the roadwork, the runway's extension will begin and be
completed by fall 2003. 

Cleveland explained that there still was some work to be done to get the
extension approved, but that the "funding is looking very good." 

"NIU will be able to use this airport for its sports teams," Cleveland
explained. 

The airport manager explained that the airport has a good relationship
with NIU and President John Peters. 

Another important area that the renovation hopes to help is
entertainment for the Convocation Center. The new extension will be able
to accommodate larger jets that big-name entertainers usually fly in. 

Cleveland explained that the money for previous projects and the future
airport plans will be 90 percent federally funded, 5 percent state
funded and 5 percent local taxpayer supported.

Attached Photo:

DeKalb's Taylor Municipal Airport is undergoing an expansion that
includes a new east-west runway, a heavy aircraft parking area and an
extension to the exsiting north-south runway.

taylor_airport.jpg