Newsletter

Sky Report: Spring 2010

Mission Statement Gary/Chicago International Airport (GCIA) has set its sights on continued growth and expansion. GCIA is dedicated to providing quality service, low cost, and convenient access. Recognized as Chicago’s Third Airport, GCIA represents the highest degree of safety and operational efficiency with plenty of room to grow.

Spring 2010 Letter From The Director Runway 12-30 Expansion Railroad Update New Partnership - Executive Hangars Strategic and Business Plan Toll Road Widening Project FAA Annual Inspection Taking Off With The Gary Chicago Airport T-Hangars Available

Letter From The Director

Dear Friends,

I welcome and thank you for the opportunity to present updates of current projects and developments at the Gary/Chicago International Airport (GCIA).

Our current projects and developments are essential steps to improve our infrastructure and make the airport more attractive to commercial and cargo carriers.

Our continued partnerships with the Regional Development Authority, Northwest Indiana Forum, Northwest Indiana region, City of Chicago, governors, senators, mayors, local tourism conventions, Friends of Gary/Chicago Airport, and local community are critical for Gary/Chicago International Airport's path to becoming the best approach for the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland area.

Sincerely,

Chris Curry
Airport Director

Runway 12-30 Expansion

Expanding Runway 12-30 to the northwest by 1,900 feet from approximately 7,000 to 8,900 feet is a crucial component for the airport’s future. The airport has acquired 162 acres of property for the runway lengthening, completed the Cline Avenue (IN-912) (which reduced the frontage road to a single lane in order to make room for the railroad track relocation), Power Line Relocation projects, and relocated the CITGO fuel tank that was determined to be within the proposed runway expansion air space. Other runway expansion components to be completed are the NAVAID relocation, wetland mitigation, and runway remarking. Negotiations with the CN Railroad, the Gary Community School Corporation, and Western Scrap are also key components in this project. The airport project funding was provided by a variety of sources with the majority from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the amount of $57.8 million dollars, Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) in the amount of $20 million dollars, as well as a projected $9.5 million dollars collected from passenger facility charges from the Chicago Airport System.

Railroad Update

Negotiations with Canadian National Railroads (CN) continue to go well as they enter into the final phase. This phase involves the final approval of legal contracts and engineering designs. Construction is scheduled to commerce this year. This project has been lengthy, but productive and continues to evolve with the addition of the need to purchase the Western Scrap property to reroute the tracks. The airport anticipates a full, binding agreement signed in the upcoming months.

New Partnership - Executive Hangars

The Gary Chicago International Airport has developed a partnership with Raymond Lewick & Associates (RLA) to lease airport land to RLA for construction of a new hangar facility designed for the “mobile” executive. This facility will be the home of four (4) individual hangars large enough to house light twin jets or twin engine props. Each upscale, heated hangar will include an office area and restroom facilities. The land has been cleared and the building’s frame has been completed to begin the initial phase of the project. The project is on schedule and completion is expected in late spring 2010. The owner’s are highly anticipating the unveiling of its new facility.

Strategic and Business Plan

In 2009, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and the airport authority assembled a working group to hire a consultant to develop a business and strategic plan. By way of a thorough bid and screening process, Landrum and Brown were hired to develop a business and strategic plan.

L&B is an internationally recognized company dedicated solely to aviation that specializes in airport planning solutions. The direction given to L&B was to start from the ground level and use their expertise in aviation planning to determine aviation opportunities that the airport could provide to produce jobs and provide better service to support the region. These areas included cargo and passenger service, cooperate and general aviation, flight schools and maintenance/repair facilities. We look forward to their recommendations and expect a new plan to be commissioned in the near future.

TOLL ROAD WIDENING PROJECT

This continuing project is a part of a long range plan to accommodate future airport development. It is at the approach end of Runway 30 and includes provisions to lower portions of the roadway approximately 6 feet. The lowering of the toll road will remove the structural and vehicle obstructions and allow the federal government to reclaim an airspace strata and allow lower aircraft operations to the main runway. Upon completion of the runway expansion, the landing threshold to Runway 30 will be moved to accommodate a standard runway safety area as mandated by the FAA.

FAA ANNUAL INSPECTION

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed its annual inspection and the airport received high remarks. The FAA conducts inspections at airports with Airport Operating Certificates annually to ensure compliance with aviation regulations FAR Part 139. Airport files, movement areas, aircraft rescue and fire fighting procedures and records, fueling facilities, and night procedures are aspects of the inspection. The inspection resulted in zero operational or airfield maintenance discrepancies and only three minor administrative observations. The FAA inspector praised the superb condition of the airport despite almost twenty consecutive prior days of snow removal operations. It was also noted that the airport fire station response to a mock emergency was well below required time limits. The airport management and staff continues to set higher standards for serving the Northwest Indiana region and delights in receiving positive feedback regarding its efforts.

TAKING OFF WITH THE GARY CHICAGO AIRPORT-TV SHOW

"Taking Off with the Gary Chicago International Airport" is a regular scheduled television show hosted by Pastor Marion J. Johnson, Airport Board President. Tune in to the airport’s "Taking Off with the Gary Chicago International Airport" weekly on the Gary Public Access Channel. For day and time, please check your local listing.

T-HANGARS AVAILABLE

The airport currently has T-hangars available.

For leasing inquires, please contact Kahari Velez, at (219) 949-1941.

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