Business View Magazine | June 2020

49 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JUNE 2020 SP I R I T OF ST . LOUI S A I RPORT Last year, Spirit leased a five-acre parcel of land to an existing maintenance operator that added a 45,000 sq. ft. maintenance hangar, continuing its mission to add jobs and increase economic development and impact. In 2007, a north parallel taxiway was built to the north runway with extended infrastructure. The airport paid for the streaks, received grant funding for the taxiways and that is now classed as future developable land. In addition, major work was done on the north runway, and a state-of-the- art U.S. Customs and Border Patrol General Aviation facility was recently built to handle that significant part of the airport business. A five-year Strategic Business Plan update is now underway. As part of that plan, the main parallel taxiway is set for rehab this year. Next year will see the north runway widened and strengthened; in 2022 the main parallel runway will be rehabbed; and in 2023 access roads will be built. Long-term plans include shifting the north runway farther north - expanding it from 5,000 by 75’ to 5500 by 100’ to accommodate all development of 50-plus acres with FBOs, large maintenance operators, and various buildings. In 2000, The Landings at Spirit opened. A gorgeous 200 acre, FAA approved 18-hole golf course now sits to the south of the main runway. Underneath it lays a state-of-the-art storm water detention system, complete with adjustable 250,000 gallon irrigation storage tank. According to Bales, “As of today, Spirit is a self- supporting public entity of the St. Louis County government that’s run like a private business with very strong cash reserves and no debt. We are an award-winning, 139 certificate airport that has 24-hour Customs with a full-time port director, over 400 based aircraft, and more than 100 based jets. There is a waiting list for our T-hangars and space is very tight for our larger FBOs. Under the 139 Air Carrier certification, we are a class 4 which means we can handle and receive large, unscheduled air carriers. It allows my staff to maintain the airport at the highest standards possible.”