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| NEWSROOM |
Newsletter
Sky Report: Summer 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. |
SUMMER 2010 |
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 May 2010, the Gary Chicago International Airport, in partnership with the Regional Development Authority, unveiled the much anticipated Strategic and Business Plan at the Build Indiana Conference. The plan was developed by Landrum and Brown, an internationally recognized company dedicated solely to aviation that specializes in airport planning solutions.
The plan introduced twenty-seven (27) recommendations:
- Develop GYY as a Low Frequency Passenger Carrier and Charter Service Airport
- Move Forward with Railroad Relocation and Runway Extension
- Maintain COMPACT Arrangement
- Airport Governance and Operating Models Should Be Revised
- Create Image Initiative and Rebrand Airport
- Update Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan
- Expand Existing Environmental Analyses
- Develop Collateral Land Use Plan
- Prepare Conceptual Development Plan
- Assess feasibility of a Ground-Oriented Regional Distribution Center
- Justify Crosswind Runway 2/20 Extension
- Develop Create Public Outreach Program
- Explore Regionalizing Sponsorship of GYY
- Continue Funding for Capital Projects
- Decrease Operating Expenses at GYY
- Review Size and Skill Sets of Airport Staff
- Retain and Expand Airport Development Zone
- Create Regional Task Force
- Focused Marketing and Development Effort
- Develop National and International Business Attraction Capability
- Integrate Airport's Business Development Process with City and Regional Efforts
- Market GYY as primary Corporate Aviation Facility
- Maintain Dual Board Structure
- Create Supplier Diversity Initiative and Program
- Continue Pursuit of High Frequency Passenger Services
- Defer Pursuit of Privatization Efforts
- Defer Pursuit of Air Cargo
Program Management
In accordance with the Strategic and Business Plan, the Airport Board and the Regional Development Authority (RDA) formed a task group to begin the process of hiring a program management firm to lead the Railroad Relocation and Runway Expansion projects. Request for qualifications are currently being accepted. For more information, visit the airport's website.
HAMMOND POLICE TRAINING
The Hammond Police Department conducted its training at the Gary Airport recently. The training took place May 24—June 25th in the airport parking lot. The Hammond Police Department is a part of the airport's Emergency Response Team and the airport supports all of its efforts to ensure its personnel has all of the available training to assist the airport when necessary.
