The Wilmington Air Park was recognized by the Ohio Aviation Association (OAA) at its annual conference as the 2015 Airport of the Year. Each year the OAA selects an airport which puts in to practice the association’s mission of promoting aviation by providing a medium for the exchange of ideas, methods, information, and experiences.
“This award is an acknowledgment of an Airport who has made extraordinary accomplishments in moving their airport program forward and helping move Ohio aviation forward,” stated Paul Strack, OAA past president. “The Wilmington Air Park has done an extraordinary job bouncing back in supporting aviation locally, creating new opportunities in UAS research and job creation”
In accepting the award, Executive Director Kevin Carver offered thanks to the OAA and its membership on behalf of the Clinton County Port Authority Board of Directors. “This is and has been a team effort – it has been a long road back and it could not have been done without the support of our Federal and State Legislators, the expertise of the LGSTX Services Staff and the efforts of JobsOhio and ODOT,” said Carver.
The Wilmington Air Park recently passed its FAA Part 139 inspection with the federal government. It received funds in FY 2014 from the ODOT Office of Jobs and Commerce to complete crack sealing and was awarded a FY 2015 grant from ODOT Aviation Division to replace failing concrete on the taxiways and remove obstructions.
Carver added: “When the Port Authority took ownership of the airport, there were approximately 750 employed at the Wilmington Air Park. Today that number is over 1,100 with a commitment of 200 more jobs in the near term.”
JobsOhio and the Ohio Development Services Agency were able to combine nearly $15 million in support of a new aircraft hangar on the airport in support of maintenance repair operations of large aircraft for AMES, one of the Wilmington Air Park’s tenants. The community and the Port Authority contributed another $3+ million and the company has signed a 23-year lease. This keeps jobs and economic growth in the community.
LGSTX Services, Inc. is contracted by the Port Authority to manage the Wilmington Air Park. A new business developed after the donation of the Air Park, LGSTX is staffed by many individuals who have been with the Wilmington Air Park for over 20 years. This level of experience was invaluable to the Port Authority at the time of the donation and continues to be today. As the Port Authority works to expand and diversify business operations at the airport, LGSTX is able to provide the technical and historical expertise to safely and quickly respond to new opportunities.
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) activity at the Wilmington Air Park is significantly increasing. The Air Park provides a safe venue for UAS flying while also providing the enhancements of large airport infrastructure and
support. It is a convenient and economical venue to conduct testing, education and research, furthering the evolution of UAS integration into the national air space. The long term partnerships with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, the Ohio/Indiana UAS Center and Sinclair Community College enhance that growth for the future.
By accepting the responsibility of owning and operating the Wilmington Air Park, the Port Authority has enabling small and large businesses to grow, and new business to explore opportunities. “We are looking forward to a great future where the Wilmington Air Park is, once again, a primary economic engine in southwest Ohio,” Carver concluded.
The OAA Airport of the Year award is chosen through input from member airport operators, the FAA’s Detroit Airports District Office (ADO), ODOT and among the OAA Board.
About the Ohio Aviation Association
Founded in 1965 as the Ohio Airport Manager’s Association, the Ohio Aviation Association (OAA) is a non-profit corporation comprised primarily of fixed base operators, airport sponsors, airport planners, engineers, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts committed to airport development, safety and economic sustainability in Ohio.
About the Wilmington Air Park
Owned by the Clinton County Port Authority, the Wilmington Air Park compasses over 1,900 acres with a fully functioning airport, as well as three million square feet of office, warehouse and hanger space. Both runways, (9,000’ and 10,701’) at the Wilmington Air Park are CAT III capable, allowing full instrument approach for some of the largest aircraft made today. The Wilmington Air Park is home to airlines, aviation maintenance and repair operations, as well as UAV testing and research.
The air park provides flexibility in landing schedules, extensive apron space, on-site aircraft maintenance, a Foreign Trade Zone Designation and a variety of economic incentive programs. The many structures can accommodate businesses of nearly any size and can be used independently or together. The air park is located in Wilmington, Ohio, just 40 miles northeast of Cincinnati, Ohio and 35 miles southeast of Dayton, Ohio. Find out more at www.wilmingtonairpark.com.
About the Clinton County Port Authority
The Port Authority is a special purpose government under Ohio law, formed by the Clinton County Commissioners in 2004 to lead economic development in Clinton County, Ohio. A primary function of the Clinton County Port Authority is the creation and retention of jobs in Wilmington and Clinton County. The Port Authority also owns and manages the Wilmington Air Park, a 1,900 acre facility with two parallel, commercial runways and nearly 3 million sq. ft. of building space. The Port Authority works with regulatory agencies, development agencies and the community to bring economic growth to the county. Learn more at www.wilmingtonairpark.com.
