Newsletter

Sky Report: Spring 2008

Dear Friends,
I welcome and thank you for the opportunity to present current projects and developments at the Gary/Chicago International Airport (GCIA). Several recently completed projects include the newly installed Instrument Landing System (ILS), S&T T-Hangar Construction, and the White Lodging Services hangar. Projects underway include the lengthening of Runway 12-30 to the northwest, the U.S. Army National Guard Aviation Unit, Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and Runway Visual Range (RVR) equipment, and the new Gary Jet Center hangar.

All of these projects and developments are essential steps to improve our infrastructure and make the airport more attractive to other 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

The airport is expanding Runway 12-30 to the northwest by 1,900 feet from approximately 7,000 to 8,900 feet. The airport has acquired 162 acres of property for the runway lengthening and completed the Cline Avenue (IN-912) project (which reduced the frontage road to a single lane in order to make room for the railroad track relocation). The airport is in the process of finalizing an agreement with the railroads required for the E. J. & E railroad relocation, relocating a Citgo fuel tank that has been determined to be within the proposed runway approach surface, and relocating a power line and transformer sub-station. Other runway expansion components to be completed are the NAVAID relocation, wetland mitigation, and runway remarking.

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.

US Army National Guard

The U.S. Army National Guard is building a 56,000 square-foot Limited Army Aviation Support Facility (LAASF), which is scheduled to be complete by May 24, 2008. In addition, the U.S. Army National Guard is building a 44,000 square-foot Readiness Center.

The construction for the Readiness Center is expected to be complete by December 1, 2008. The new LAASF facility will house Black Hawk helicopters, medical units and other military aircraft.

CITGO Storage Tank Relocation

CITGO storage tank number 52 was determined to be within the proposed runway protection zone. The fuel tank was demolished and a new replacement fuel tank is being constructed. The construction cost is approximately $2,450,000.

Powerline Relocation Project

On October 11, 2007 the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority awarded a construction contract in the amount of $8,920,446 to Newkirk Electric Associates to bury power lines and a transformer sub-station.

Construction began in November 2007 and is expected to be complete in Spring 2009. The power lines and transformer sub-station need to be relocated to alleviate the hazard for approach surface penetration for the Runway 12 extension. The power lines are owned by the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) and will continue to be owned/operated by NIPSCO.

Boeing Apron Expansion

Boeing and the airport entered a cost sharing agreement to expand the Boeing apron by 23,265 square-feet. The bid was awarded to Gariup Construction for $249,400. The construction began in September 2007 and was completed in November 2007.

Gary Jet Center Hangar

Construction is almost complete for the Gary Jet Center west hangar. The new 38,000 square-foot hangar facility will house Gulfstream size aircraft.

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