KSA Engineers' aviation expertise in developing airports continues to soar as the firm performs planning, engineering, and construction phase services for the projects at Stephenville Clark Regional Airport.

The City of Stephenville hired KSA to implement airport improvement projects which are jointly funded by grants through the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. The purpose of the projects is to improve hangar facilities, airport development areas, and runway and taxiway pavement.

Below is an article describing these improvements….

More improvements are starting to take shape at Stephenville Clark Regional Airport.

According to Drew Wells, director of community services, the projects are expected to increase revenue for the city while providing air travelers with facilities up to par with other municipal airports.

Wells said a recent agreement between the city and an unnamed local businessman has led to the construction of a new hangar. He said the citizen approached the city with the desire to build a large, private hangar to house his aircraft. He will pay for the construction of the hangar and lease the property for 25 years," Wells said, adding that an option for an additional five-years is included in the contract. "This is a big benefit for the city. We retain 100 percent of the monthly revenue and the money will stay in the airport to fund operating expenses."

Following the 25 or 30-year period, the hangar will become the property of the city and available for lease on a monthly or annual basis.

Meanwhile, two pending projects that will be funded through matching grants awarded by the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Aviation Division will also add up to great improvements.

One of the grants, which will require a 20 percent match from the city, will be used to construct an additional 12 T-hangars, according to Wells.

He said the preliminary engineering report will be submitted by the April deadline, and once the report is approved, the design and construction phases will follow. He said the city expects construction on the hangars to begin in late summer or early fall, and be complete in about four months.

Once complete, the city will have a total of 40 T-hangars, according to Wells, who said the increased capacity will pave the way for the long-anticipated runway extension project which he expects will bring more traffic to the airport.

In regards to the extension, Wells said another pending project is the updating of the airport layout plan (AYP).

Wells said an update of the AYP, which will reflect current facilities and outline future plans, will require a 10 percent investment from the city with TxDOT funding 90 percent. He also said the update is a required step in the upcoming runway extension to obtain project approval from TxDOT and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Finally, Wells said the private agreement and TxDOT projects will allow the city to cash in on big benefits with minimal investment. He said without the opportunities, Stephenville Clark might have had to wait many moons to see the proposed changes become a reality.