Beyond passenger flights, the airport supports a thriving general aviation community, with private aircraft housed in T-hangars and unit hangars. Cree highlights the role of Nulton Aviation Services, the airport’s fixed-base operator, which offers a comprehensive suite of services from aircraft maintenance and refueling to storage. This FBO also hosts the Nulton Aviation Flight Academy in partnership with Saint Francis University. The airport’s facilities are expanding in new ways as well. Saint Francis University opened an Aircraft Maintenance Technician School in the airport’s Hangar 15 complex this fall.The program is a major addition, with classes kicking off in late August and a ribbon-cutting ceremony held shortly after. “This school brings new educational opportunities to the area and opens doors to aviation careers,” Cree says, mentioning that graduates will be positioned to secure interviews with SkyWest Airlines. As part of the airport’s growth, a new $5.6 million Eastside Development Project will enhance the infrastructure, including a widened access road, a 162-space parking lot, and a reconstructed apron to support the maintenance school. In another significant development, Johnstown’s popular Balance Restaurant will open a second location at the airport in January 2025. Cree notes, “This is something we’re really excited about— having a well-known restaurant at the airport will be a great amenity for travelers and locals.” At the same time, the airport also boasts robust air traffic control support, operated by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 258 Air Traffic Control Squadron. Its 7,004-foot concrete runway, capable of handling military aircraft, often hosts Black Hawk helicopters and occasionally sees high-profile landings. BUILDING AN AVIATION TRAINING HUB JST is undergoing a substantial transformation, focused on developing its Hangar 15 complex into a fully functional aviation education hub. Over the past few years, more than $2 million has been invested to repurpose this space. The complex, which includes two hangars with an office building in between, now hosts classrooms, a bookstore, and lounge areas to accommodate students in Saint Francis University’s Aircraft Maintenance Technician 135 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 11 JOHN MURTHA JOHNSTOWN-CAMBRIA COUNTY AIRPORT
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