Tuesday, August 14, 2012

NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL IN WORK AT CRESTVIEW (BOB SIKES) AIRPORT


The Crestview Airport keeps growing and growing.  This established Florida Enterprise Zone by the State of Florida continues to be an attractive area for growth.  With the expansion of the Airport and some recent announcements of new companies released and some to be released, it is quite obvious some folks have Crestview in their crosshairs for a place to call home. 

New terminal in works at Bob Sikes Airport
Emerald Coast Aviation plans to break ground Jan. 1
By BRIAN HUGHES
682-6524 | @cnbBrian brianh@crestviewbulletin.com 
CRESTVIEW — When Emerald Coast Aviation became Bob Sikes Airport’s fixed-base operator, President Jonathan Dunn promptly started dreaming of building a bigger and better passenger terminal.  In a year or so, he expects his dream will become a reality. “We’re going to break ground on the first of January, and we’re still continuing the research on putting a small restaurant out here,” Dunn said. “We haven’t made a final decision. We’d really like to put it out here, but we need to do more market research.”  Dunn said the airport’s location 17 minutes from downtown Crestview could be a drawback to attracting customers.“I would always appreciate local input,” he said.  In addition to a large public lounge, preliminary plans call for a larger pilots’ lounge, a new parking lot and a courtyard. Emerald Coast Aviation offices also will move into the new terminal, Dunn said.  No decision has been made about what to do with the existing terminal, which is attached to the company’s hangar, he added.  Meanwhile, Emerald Coast Aviation recently brought in Gary Hamilton as the company’s new director of maintenance and operations, and has become an authorized service center for Cirrus Aircraft, Dunn said. The company also continues its popular flight school, offering an allinclusive private pilot training package, Dunn said. Licensed pilots can work on their next level of certification on Emerald Coast Aviation’s Redbird flight simulator. New pilots can also gain valuable air hours by practicing in it. In September, Dunn and his team will host the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Business After Hours gathering. The public is invitedNov.3 to the second yearly fly-in, which will feature free food, music and airplanes.
 For more information, call Dunn at 398-6739 or visit www.emeraldcoast aviation.com .

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