New Hangars on Wish List for Searcy Airport Expansion

[Colleen Turner <colleenturner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

January 22, 2004

New Hangars on Wish List for Searcy Airport Expansion
Searcy Daily Citizen, AR

The Searcy Municipal Airport Commission discussed
plans to develop land for new hangars during the
Commission's regular meeting Tuesday in Searcy.

Home to approximately 100 aircraft housed in 27
buildings and in the midst of a multi-million dollar
improvement process, Airport Commissioners are
responding to the growing need for more aircraft
facilities, Ken Simmons, Searcy Airport manager said.

"I get inquiries every month from people looking for
hangar space," Simmons said. "I received two inquiries
just last week. We have 27 buildings and they are
full. We have known for some time we would have to
address this need and now is the time."

The Commission named a special committee to consider
the prospects for preparing an area of airport land
along Business Highway 67 between the National Guard
Armory and the southernmost hangar area, he said.

"There is a 14-acre tract of land we can develop,"
Simmons said. "All the utilities are there. All that
remains is to design for its use."

Walking the length of the taxi area through the
hangars south of the airport control center, Simmons
points out one hangar that is undergoing an expansion.

"We lease the space for the hangars," he said. "And we
are about at capacity. This hangar [referring to the
one undergoing renovation] is having about 10 feet
added to each side. Quite an increase. With the land
developed I think we could fill space quickly."

Commission member Vaughn Baugh will chair the special
committee to review possible uses, Simmons said. Also
serving on the committee will be Wiley Blansett,
Joanna Taylor, representing pilots, a representative
from Miller-Newell consulting engineers, and Simmons.

In other business, Simmons provided Commission members
an update on the master plan for the Airport.
Commission Chair Randy McLeod led discussion on plans
for organizing a public focus group for input on
future developments for the airport. Also, the
Commission voted in favor of a 50-day assessment for
liquidated damages in the airport contract with
Southwest Fence Company, which recently completed a
four-mile perimeter fence project for the airport.

The project was estimated to take approximately six
months, but took closer to one year for completion,
Simmons said. After review by engineers and discussion
by the Commission, it was decided Southwest Fence
Company would only be assessed for 50 days, at a
contract loss of approximately $300 per day, Simmons
said.


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