Sept. 05--POTSDAM -- The village Planning Board unanimously approved a site plan Thursday for the construction of a hangar at Damon Field for LaValle Transportation, a local trucking company. The business plans to make private aircraft available to professionals, academics and residents intending to travel by jet to nationwide destinations.
Once built, the hangar property will be leased by the company from the village. Owner Randy L. LaValley described the side business as low traffic, but told the board he is busy and expects to get busier. Customers will be able to use the company's jet to travel to major cities such as New York for meetings and other purposes. The charter service will be a secondary use of company aircraft, which transport Mr. LaValley and other company staff on business trips.
Planes intended to be used for the charter service are a six-seat single-engine Cessna P-210 and a five-passenger twin-jet Citation I, according to a North Country Now report.
Also in the new hangar, the business plans to employ an aircraft mechanic to maintain the planes, who will be available to other airport tenants. The mechanic will provide a service that is in short supply in the north country, according to Potsdam Planning and Development Director Frederick J. Hanss. Mr. Hanss said the next nearest mechanic is in Watertown.
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