Business View Magazine | August 2020

158 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2020 its operating expenses. Sims adds that there is a small waiting list for T-hangar space and that it is preparing to address the situation. “As far as T-hangars go, we are getting ready to break ground on our next development,” he explains. “We have state grants that are funding this project to do all of the ground work and paving associated to facilitate the construction of a new T-hangar facility. We have not secured the funds for the T-hangar building, itself, at this point, but we are laying the ground work so we can proceed with that in the future. We also offer ground leases for private hangar development. We have one private hangar development that has eight hangars in it, right now, with two vacant lots available. Part of the ground work we’re doing for the T-hangar will also open up more lot space for private hangars.” Another upcoming project is the upgrading of the Airport’s taxiway lighting using federal AIP funds. “We also received a $3 million supplemental AIP funding grant to relocate a portion of a taxiway so we can expand our general aviation parking area,” Sims adds. Regarding competition from other area airports, Sims reports, “In terms of general aviation airports, there are several smaller airports located 15 or 20 miles from us. But most of those are much smaller with much more limited facilities; they don’t have the full-service capabilities that our Airport does. From a commercial standpoint, all of the commercial airports that are nearest us are 90 driving miles away. Some people do drive to the larger commercial airports in Des Moines Airport Manager, Dave Sims