Jefferson County airport to add hangar through state grant
TIMES STAFF WRITER
DEXTER — Watertown International Airport will add a new hangar in 2012, large enough to hold the larger commercial planes now serving the airport.
“The hangar was something we thought there was a need for,” Jefferson County Highway Superintendent James L. Lawrence Jr. said. “Something of a larger size, whether it was for one large plane, a few small planes or a couple jets or midsized prop planes that could fit in the hangar, the need was always there.”
The state Empire State Development Corp. gave the airport a $1.5 million grant to build the hangar, announced earlier in December. The hangar will be about 14,400 square feet and have office space and a general aviation terminal. The hangar would be owned and leased by the county to corporate jet owners and perhaps American Eagle.
“It is not specifically earmarked for American Eagle, but it could be used by them,” Mr. Lawrence said.
American Eagle, the regional service partner of American Airlines, began flying a 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140 aircraft to the airport Nov. 17. Twelve flights a week take passengers from Jefferson County to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The new service has necessitated additions to the commercial passenger terminal and parking lot at the airport, 22529 Airport Drive, off Route 12F near Dexter.
American Eagle spokesman Edward Martelle said the commuter jets would use the hangar only if they needed repair in severe weather.
Mr. Lawrence said the county’s airport budget also may put in about $200,000 for the project, and officials considered several different locations.
“It will still take (Federal Aviation Administration) approval in updating the airport layout plan, and their determination hasn’t been made yet,” he said. “The design has not gone beyond preliminary design work, either, so we’re looking at probably the middle of next year before anything would be started.”
