MORE UPGRADES PLANNED FOR CRESTVIEW INDUSTRIAL AIRPARK

Bob Sikes expansion to land new business - and larger planes
Brian Hughes
2011-02-04 20:35:59
As you will see below, Crestview Industrial Airpark (Bob Sikes Airport) continues to grow and make improvements to either address the needs of the present tenants of the Airport, the needs of the new businesses moving to the airport or planning to move to the airport. Yes, we have the 7th Special Forces and the F-35 Training coming here, however, I am pretty confident this airport is on the radar screen of a number of aerospace companies, especially since the World’s Largest Airport is just around the corner. STAY TUNED, MORE TO FOLLOW, AS ALWAYS.


CRESTVIEW — Upgrades planned for Bob Sikes Airport will help boost the economy, local officials and business representatives say. Improvements will include widening the taxiways up to 75 feet to accommodate Federal Aviation Administration Group IV aircraft with wingspans between 118 and 170 feet. “Any aircraft in the world will be able to land here in the future,” Okaloosa County Airports Director Greg Donovan said. “Today is the beginning of future prosperity for our community.” Large planes such as the Antonov An-124 cargo jet that landed at the airport in October not only can use the 8,000-foot runway, they won’t need airport tugs to help them turn around. Funding for the project came from a combination of federal and state sources. The FAA provided $5.1 million and the Florida Department of Transportation put up $3.6 million, said county airports Project Manager Tracy Stage. The remaining $3 million came from a state infrastructure bank loan. Friday’s cold, drizzly weather forced the groundbreaking into the cavernous BAE Aerospace Solutions hangar. “I commend the vision, foresight and leadership of your community,” DOT District 3 Secretary Tommy Barfield said at the ceremony. “We are excited for the opportunity to grow the county’s and the state’s economy.” Gordon Eldridge, BAE’s vice president and general manager, also was confident. “We believe we are going to grow in the (Crestview) area and projects like this make that possible,” Eldridge said. Derek Lott, president-elect of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, agreed.“It’s raining and cold outside, but the future is bright at Bob Sikes Airport,” Lott said.