GARY — One of Gary/Chicago International Airport’s fixed-base operators plans to build a new hangar next year, and as many as four more over the next seven years.
B. Coleman Aviation received approval Monday from the Airport Authority Board to pursue a project that would add a $5 million, 40,000-square-foot hangar near the company’s current two 2-old 52,000-square-foot facility.
Monday’s action took the form of a 30-year lease agreement for the land B. Coleman would build on. The agreement includes the intention to build up to four more hangars at an estimated cost of $15 million.
“Our hangars are full,” B. Coleman President John Girzadas said at Monday’s meeting. “We’re really excited about the additional space and the additional business we’ll bring to the airport.”
Girzadas said the company currently has 35 employees, and the expansion would add 30 full-time positions servicing aircraft. Fixed-base operators provide storage, maintenance and administrative support to airport users.
Girzadas said he’ll come back to the airport board with a site plan in 60 to 90 days. Plans call for the new hangar to open in November 2017.
After that, he said, “we’ll let customer needs evolve over the next couple years” before deciding the next step.
The new hangars will be adjacent to B. Coleman’s current facility, and would take some space currently occupied by the airport’s T-hangars — the smaller, T-shaped hangars used to store private planes. Airport officials are considering a new location for those hangars as part of their ongoing master plan update.
Airport Chairman Stephen Mays called B. Coleman “a trusted partner” at the airport. “This is the latest in public and private sector investments that will help the airport grow,” he said.
Gary’s original FBO, Gary Jet Center, has completed construction of two new hangars in recent years, and has plans to build a new arrival and departure terminal..
The airport itself extended its runway to accommodate larger planes flying longer flights.
“Our plans to grow reflect not only where we think the airport is today, but where it is going in the future,” Girzadas said.
Firm hired to appraise airport property
Also Monday, the airport board hired Duff & Phelps Corp. to perform an appraisal of all its fixed assets. The appraisal will cost $35,000.
Airport Executive Director Dan Vicari said new guidelines the airport is following for its annual audit require an appraisal of fixed assets. The airport doesn’t have sufficient information on some of its older assets, including the terminal, taxiway and older hangars.
