Business View Magazine Jan-2019

90 based at Scholes,with a small waiting list that Sha- han says is being addressed.“Right now, the major- ity of people are waiting for the larger box hangars that we’re planning on building–two 3,600-sq.-ft. hangars.We have purchased two T-hangars consist- ing of 14 units and have plans to build an eight-unit T-hangar. In the past,we provided the infrastructure and we leased the ground. But we’ve shifted that and we’re going to build the hangars, ourselves.And we will still lease ground space for people wanting to build hangars–that’s not a problem, at all.” “And for a general aviation airport,we are prob- ably one of a few airports that have as much hospi- tality businesses as we do,which provides us with a lot of non-aviation producing revenue,”Shahan continues.“Some of the top tourist attractions in Galveston are based here.We have Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center - that’s a very big com- plex that includes an 18-hole golf course.We have SchlitterbahnWaterpark, the Tin Cup Driving Range, and the Inn at the Waterpark. So, about 68 percent of our revenue comes from these non-aviation sources.”Non-aviation businesses affiliated with the Airport property also boost the local economy, gen- erating 1,150 jobs and $89 million in yearly impact. Shahan adds that the Airport is open for more aviation business, as well.“We probably have an- other 10-15 acres for aviation uses,”he reports. “We’re hoping to attract a flight school, a main- tenance shop, an avionics shop, and some more corporate flight departments. We are also trying to get the airport approved so anyone needing to clear U.S. customs can do so, so it’s not just the medical flights. And we certainly have space for hangar de- velopment.On the south side of the Airport,where the driving range is, that could also be developed for aviation purposes; that’s about another 25 acres.” Today, aviation activities already account for 361