Jul. 12—AUBURN — The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport could be in line for federal funds for a new heated hanger, which officials say will spark a larger expansion effort.
On Friday, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden met with local officials in Auburn to discuss what a new hangar could do for the airport, including the potential for offering commercial flights from Auburn.
According to Glen Holmes, Auburn's director of business and community development and airport board chairman, the proposed $1.6 million project will satisfy a demand for more aircraft space, providing additional revenue.
But Holmes said it's also something that's been talked about for a long time and is part of long-term efforts to grow the airport and its offerings.
Golden's office said the congressman included the hangar project among 15 projects he is requesting federal funding for through the Community Project Funding process. If approved, the funding would be available late this year.
Holmes said the hangar would be large enough to accommodate the largest jets that touch down at the airport, and on other days, could hold several other planes. The airport has several hangars, including two that are more than 50 years old.
The newest hangars, under 10 years old, are used for LifeFlight air ambulance maintenance operations and what's known as a "maintenance, rework and overhaul" facility for Elite Airways.
Holmes said Elite Airways is the "largest stakeholder" of the airport and that the company's existing space, combined with the proposed hangar will attract more aircraft.
Mayor Jason Levesque and other city staff toured the facility with Golden on Friday, discussing the potential "economic and workforce developments that this hangar would help bring to the airport and region."
"Elite continues to expand its operations at the airport, and we are in discussions to hopefully grow to the point of offering commercial flights directly from Auburn," a statement from Auburn officials said.
"I'm pleased to be working with Mayor Levesque to secure congressional funding for a new hanger at the Auburn-Lewiston airport," Golden said in an email. "This investment will help set the table for an expansion of services that are an important part of the cities' economic development plans. I'm looking forward to working with Mayor Levesque to see this project completed."
James Scheller, who was named the airport manager this spring, said the airport is waiting for the funding to be confirmed, but engineering and other work has already been done.
Holmes said the new hangar would also "reduce or satisfy the waiting list of pilots requesting hangar space," and would open up space for the Civil Air Patrol to use, in turn freeing up terminal space for commercial and charter operations.
The airport has also applied for another grant in hopes of bringing an aircraft maintenance school on site, and is working with Central Maine Community College on the effort.
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