Business View Magazine - October 2018

100 101 renewed focus on that type of extra business development outside of the aviation and aero- nautical fields.” “We’re always looking for opportunities to partner with private developers on new hangar space,” he continues. “We realize a lot of times that the investment in infrastructure is a huge cost and, sometimes, increases the risk as far as a private investment goes. The hangars, them- selves, are a significant investment, so what we’d be looking to do is partner with those who want to make the investment on the private side as far as hangars and those types of buildings, where the City would go in and look at opportunities to share costs on infrastructure.” Meanwhile, Hume reports that upgrading the Airport’s current facilities is an ongoing task. “We have had some unfortunate circumstances take place over the last few years, and we are actively improving the safety and security of the Airport – that is the number one priority,” he declares. “Number two is improving our infrastructure. Un- fortunately some of the investment in the infra- structure hasn’t been there.We need to upgrade our taxi lanes and aprons and runways and keep all of that infrastructure in the best possible con- dition, especially considering the southern New Mexico sun that we have here that tends to be a little rough on asphalt. “One project that we are working on is the renovation of our terminal building; we’re go- ing to renovate it in partnership with one of our FBOs and along with it, make some office space available for other uses. That is a near-term im- LAS CRUCES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PSL’s UAS Test Site One of 7 FAA Approved UAS Test Sites Located at the Las Cruces International Airport Research | Demonstrations | Test Flights The Physical Science Labratory’s UAS Test Site can host all UAS classes and altitudes in the more than 15,000 sq. miles of airspace locally and National Airspace System for lower altitudes. Leading the way toward safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System For information, contact Henry Cathey at hcathey@psl.nmsu.edu Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa Santa Ana Pueblo, NM https://taac.nmsu.edu UAS TAAC 2018 Conference 20th Anniversary December 4-6, 2018 at Come join the leaders in the Unmanned Aircraft Industry at PREFERRED VENDOR n New Mexico State University UAS Test Site psl.nmsu.edu Physical Science Laboratory’s FAA designated UAS Test Site, the first and most experienced, can host all UAS classes and altitudes. PSL provides access to more than 15,000 sq. miles of airspace including restricted airspace, many operating airfields, and separate low level national airspace. Our UAS fleet can fly up to 115 lb payloads.   provement that we’re going to do.We’re going to be working on a redesign of our main, general avia- tion apron; it’s been neglected for a while, so we’re going to have a significant investment in complete- ly reconstructing that. There will be a brand new surface, new tie downs, with new opportunities for some of the larger planes to come in and park.” “In three to five years, we want dramatic hangar expansion,” Hume says, in conclusion. “We’re work- ing with our friends from Virgin Galactic who are relocating a lot of their operations in our area, with their Spaceport just north of Las Cruces, and, UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) testing by New Mexico State University, with all of the air space we have here, is going to be a priority, as well. Those are the big things we’re going to be looking at. So, we have very ambitious plans.We have a great deal of support, both from the City, as well as our Airport Advisory Board and our current tenants. They under- stand the need for growth and redevelopment.”