The Frankfort/Clinton County Airport Authority announced Tuesday night that the new terminal/hangar building will be open by November 1.
“We did have a slight delay,” said Airport Authority Board President Alan Dunn. “We decided before we put ceiling tiles in and did that final work we wanted to get some technology infrastructure put in place. We are now targeting a move-in date and operating date switching the operation from the existing terminal to the new one on November 1.”
Dunn added this will eliminate some confusion that has been taking place.
“It’s already been a little bit of an issue because the building structurally is functionally done,” said Dunn. “When we have aircraft and pilots come in, they’re not exactly sure where to go. Do they come to the old terminal or to the new terminal? The sooner we can get moved down to the new building the smoother it will be for everybody that uses the airport.”
The board elected to extend the contract it has with First Wing Air Center for the remainder of this year. That contract was due to end on Sept. 30.
“Our agreement is kind of an awkward one in that it expires mid-year…actually at the end of September,” said Dunn. “We voted to extend that agreement through the end of the year. That way we’ll be in a calendar year that will match our budget and will make that budget process a lot easier.”
First Wing Air Center took over the Frankfort Municipal Airport a little over a year ago when the owners of Montgomery Aviation elected to retire.
The board also approved the 2019 budget that will now be sent on to the Clinton County Council for final approval.
“It was really a refreshing budget to go through because this is the first budget in a couple of years that hasn’t had the big distortions in it because of the terminal hangar project,” said Dunn.