Members of the Augusta Aviation Commission voted Feb. 24 to move forward with a proposal to enclose an area at the east end of the main terminal building.
Commissioners approved spending $10,800 for a feasibility study by their engineering firm to begin the process.
“They’ll look at stuff such as aircraft parking and ramp circulation to make sure that aircraft can move in that area. And if all that comes back acceptable, we’ll go into planning and designing and ultimately construction,” said Executive Director Herbert Judon, Jr. “It’s not a lot of space, it’s about 1,800 square feet, but it gives us more seating space, and it will also allow those gates potentially to be used for boarding bridges which ultimately will help us with growth and attracting more carriers as well.”
The area was designed when airlines servicing the airport flew propeller aircraft into Augusta and people boarded from the ground. Those have now been replaced by jet aircraft and boarding bridges that passengers use.
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Judon said work on the terminal building would cost roughly $2 million which could be covered with the airport’s infrastructure funds.
Commissioners were also updated on an upcoming special event at the airport, and another event planned for late April.
Run the Runway 5K, is scheduled for March 19. Lauren Smith, the airport’s assistant director of Marketing and Public Relations said response has been good.
“We have almost 200 people registered for the event. So, the numbers keep going up daily. I’m glad it’s gaining momentum. And we look forward to having a lot of people out here,” she said.
The course begins at the boat dock on Lock and Dam Road. It will wind through the park, come back out and move onto one of the airport’s runways and taxiway.
Registration fee is $30 for adults and $25 for children aged 8-12. Children seven and younger can participate for fee.
Proceeds from the event will go to support ForcesUnited.
Runner check-in begins at 7 a.m. and the race starts at 8 a.m. Pre-registration is encouraged.
For more information and to register: www.flyags.com/Run-the-Runway-5K
In late April, the airport will host a boxing event in conjunction with the Augusta Boxing Club. This is the second year the airport hosts the event.
“It’s called Augusta Regional Classic II. We had some as far as New York and Chicago come last year. I expect the same this year, so these young men and women get to duke it out, so to speak, in the hangar that we have on property. The ring will be set up in our hangar one. It’s a community event as a fundraiser for the Augusta boxing club,” Smith said.
She said the boxing club will be overseeing most of the promotion for the event through the club’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/augustaboxingclub
When tickets are available, they will be sold on the club’s website: https://www.augustaboxingclub.com/
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
