David Ivey of Wilson Air Center
Chattanooga Airport officials said Monday they are planning $15 million in improvements for the upcoming year, including a new fire-fighting vehicle, continued parking lot expansion, covered walkways for all parking lots, additional ramp improvements, possible expansion of the solar farm and adding a third hangar on the west side of the airport.
April Cameron, finance director, said the airport's portion is expected to be $1.7 million with the rest covered by state and federal grants as well as airport fees.
Airport officials also said that enplanements continue to rise, going up 14.6 percent in April over the previous April. For the year to date, the increase is 14.5 percent.
President Terry Hart said, "The upward trend is continuing. Our parking lots are full, and May should be another good month."
He said the airport is continuing toward the goal of 400,000 enplanements for the year. The total for April was 32,608. For the first four months of the year, it was 119,654.
Dave Ivey of Wilson Air Center said the general aviation facility at the airport is budgeting for $10 million in revenues against $9.1 million in expenses.
Ms. Cameron said the debt service on the center costs about $1 million per year. She said it stands at $11.4 million and should be cut to $10.6 million by the end of the year.
Wilson Air Center consolidated with the airport's longtime general aviation provider, TAC Air, effective January 2014.
Airport board member Jim Hall said since the merger "there is no question there has been a dramatic improvement in service and fuel prices."
Mr. Ivey said a survey of 20 comparable airports shows the Chattanooga Airport with the second lowest fuel prices for the second year in a row.
He said hangar space is becoming scarce with the improvement of the economy and increased production of smaller aircraft. He said the air center welcomes the new hangar.
Mr. Ivey said the air center often gets diverts from Atlanta during bad weather there. He said some Atlanta and Nashville firms prefer to make Chattanooga their general aviation center. He said the firm is handling baggage for the Allegiant airline.
Ms. Cameron said the airport portion of the budget projects $9.5 million in revenues and $5.9 million in expenses. Mr. Hall said that will allow the airport "to squirrel some money away in reserve."
Officials said Thomas Brothers Construction of Soddy Daisy had the low bid of $219,630 for improving a 4,000-foot stretch of the airport perimeter road. He said it is near the levee and sometimes floods. There were two bids.
Dillard Construction has begun work on a new parking lot. The parking lot construction is to continue through about November. Officials said about half of the new parking lot equipment has been installed.
Ms. Cameron said rates at the short-term lot will remain the same, but long-term parking will go to $9 per day. A new economy lot will cost $6 per day.
The board welcomed Dr. Paul Conn, Lee University president, to the panel. He replaces longtime board member Gene Veazey, who is also from Bradley County. Mr. Veazey served for 16 years.