Business View Magazine | July 2019

97 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2019 instead of driving to another airport to start their trip.” The airport’s public awareness campaign has resulted in a 24 percent increase in passengers over the last four years. But daily commercial flights are not the only thing that helps Chippewa Valley flourish; the Airport is proud to have a full-service, Fixed Base Operator, Hawthorne Global Aviation Services, which also owns a charter company, Heartland Aviation. Hawthorne Global Aviation Services operates out of a recently-renovated passenger terminal with first-class amenities, such as pilot lounges and conference facilities. The FBO has a robust aircraft charter and management operation, in addition to a strong maintenance department capable of servicing both piston and turbine aircraft. The Airport also hosts an award- winning, full-service restaurant, Hangar 54 Grill, enjoyed by both passengers and pilots. Hangar 54 Grill has an amazing view of the airfield and is a great opportunity to experience why so many are choosing to fly here. “We are always looking for new opportunities to improve the service we are providing,” Zich notes. “We are currently in the process of a cost-benefit analysis to consider enhancements to navigational aids and reviewing whether to extend our crosswind runway, allowing for larger corporate aircraft. In addition, we are actively soliciting for aeronautical and non-aeronautical development at the Airport. There is plenty of available space for expansion and we are aggressively seeking new business opportunities to locate at our facility.” Furthermore, the Airport is home to the region’s only emergency medical helicopter, which is operated by Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service. The Airport also has a variety of other niche operators, including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol. All of these entities contribute to the overall economic growth of the area, as the Airport contributes $41.6 million, annually, in direct economic impact to the local economy according to a report by the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics. The economic impact of the airport can be traced THE CHI PPEWA VALLEY REGIONAL A I RPORT