majority of the terminal modification projects are funded primarily through FAA and Department of Transportation terminal grants, maintaining the airport’s low-cost structure without impacting the rate base. AVIATION GROWTH AND EXPANDING OPERATIONS Bishop International Airport’s aviation infrastructure supports a diverse mix of operations, including flight training, maintenance, and hangar development. Two flight schools operate on campus: Crosswinds Aviation, which expanded from one aircraft in 2019 to five currently, and Lapeer Aviation. “The flight school is really doing well,” Sapone says of Crosswinds’ growth trajectory. “The schools’ benefit from the airport’s federal grant-funded upgrades to pavement and lighting systems, which maintain modern operational standards across the airfield.” AeroDesign Services signed a 50-year lease for aircraft maintenance, certification, and overhaul facility in one of the airport’s three major hangars. The company is investing in upgrades with a grand opening scheduled for next month. “Having a Maintenance Repair Operation (MRO) on campus, at the airport, current carriers don’t have to wait for maintenance to be done on the aircraft when they have it right here,” Sapone explains. The MRO facility addresses a critical industry bottleneck where airlines currently face two-year scheduling delays for maintenance checks and complete overhaul. Future master plan development on a 40-acre parcel of land for hangar development is in the design phase for hangar construction. Currently, a taxiway is in final design to connect the 40-acre parcel to the runway, with construction starting in 2026.“This development will support a wide range of aviation sector jobs and enhance the airport’s capability to attract additional air service.” Sapone notes. The airport is also working with current airlines to add additional destinations, along with attracting new carriers that align with passenger demands. TOURISM AND REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY Bishop International Airport is an economic gateway with a catchment area of approximately 3.5 million people. It is a broad region of central and southeastern Michigan, encompassing several nearby metro areas and extending to the Canadian border. The airport conducted a second-home study with its aviation consultant, Ailevon Pacific, to identify destination opportunities, leading to recent route 210 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 10
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