Ryan Cooley, the airport director, explains, “After World War II, the airport was handed over to civilian control through the Surplus Property Act. The local community and government quickly saw the value in keeping it open as a public facility to support both commercial and general aviation.” Currently, the airport is served by Advanced Air, a Southern California-based airline that operates essential air service flights. “We have daily flights to Oakland and twice-weekly service to Hawthorne in the LA basin,” Cooley shares.“Since they started five months ago, demand has been robust. Advanced Air has really filled a gap for our community, providing the dependable connections we need.” This service means that residents can access major California cities. In recent years, the airport has seen significant upgrades. One of the most visible changes has been the construction of a new terminal, completed five years ago. “The previous terminal was outdated, and frankly, it wasn’t equipped to handle potential growth or meet today’s passenger expectations,” Cooley explains. “The new building was designed with functionality and aesthetics in mind. It’s shaped like the wing of an aircraft, and it’s absolutely beautiful.” MODERNIZING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A REMOTE COMMUNITY As a transportation hub serving one of California’s most isolated regions,The Del Norte County Regional Airport operates with a unique set of priorities. Its role goes beyond convenience, reaching into areas like emergency medical transport and regional economic development.The airport’s current airport layout plan places heavy emphasis on maintaining and upgrading essential infrastructure. Cooley shares that the airport’s latest project is a comprehensive rehabilitation of Runway 18/36, backed by a substantial grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.“We received over $7 million from the Department of Transportation’s FAA grant program to restore the runway and upgrade our LED lighting,” he says. These upgrades are integral to supporting commercial and emergency services in a remote area where air transport can be the difference between life and death. This runway project is part of a broader initiative to enhance safety and operational efficiency at the airport. Cooley emphasizes that these improvements 189 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 12 DEL NORTE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT
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