Business View Magazine | October 2020

181 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2020 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY A I RPORTS of the county, has less dense airspace, so it’s easier to do some of that testing,” he explains. “As these operators want to progress into a more complex airspace, Buchanan provides that; it has an air traffic control tower and it’s closer to the more congested airspace of San Francisco and Oakland. So, we’re kind of a great test bed because we have the remote airport as you start that initial testing, and when you have to get into more complex testing, you can come to Buchanan Field and do that.” In addition, both airports have a selection of offices, workshops, and hangars available for short-term and long-term lease; there are full- service aviation providers at the two facilities that include pilot training, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, avionics, fabrication, aircraft storage, fuel, and other specialty aviation services; and because of Contra Costa County’s strong relationship and a proven track record with the FAA, it can assist UAS companies to acquire the required operational and/or airspace permits and waivers. Meanwhile, Beth Lee, Assistant Director of Airports for Business & Administration reports that both airports have development projects under various stages of completion – six at Buchanan and three at Byron. “Not included in that list is the county-sponsored, general aviation terminal at Buchanan that has the ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) and the administration offices,” she states. “That is moving forward. We’re in the final stages of design with the expectation of going out to bid, shortly after the new year and starting construction sometime next spring. And the runway overlay of our secondary, crosswind runway is in construction, right now, and scheduled to be done by the end of September.” Lee adds that of the nine projects mentioned, four are for non-aviation uses, and that two of them will break ground next spring. “We are very business-friendly, here,” she says. “We work with all parties and try to accommodate them on the airfield.”