TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — According to Terre Haute Regional Airport’s executive director, the five-year capital improvement plan is focusing on important priorities.
“It’s basically a wish list. We do a five year wish list of the things that we need, things that need to be improved. Your priorities are going to be like your runway, taxiways, lighting, the things for airplanes,” said Executive Director Jeff Hauser.
One of the main items in the plan is fixing part of the airport’s apron and ramp. This is the area where airplanes are parked.
Another priority in the plan is getting updated Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) equipment, along with a new facility to store it.
“We provide our own ARFF through our maintenance personnel. They have to get training every year. But our equipment came from the Air National Guard when they were still flying. So our equipment, it was kind of old then and it’s even gotten older,” Hauser said.
Runways and taxiways will continue to be a top focus.
“We used to have our third runway, turned that into a taxiway. And now we have a primary and a secondary runway. That has been the main thing that we’ve put money into, probably the last four years,” Hauser said.
Indiana State University’s Flight Academy is right next door to the airport. One instructor said he’s glad the airport is looking ahead.
“As the airport grows and the flight school grows, it’s important to keep building the infrastructure to accommodate the growth,” said Chief Pilot Kevin Donnar.
Hauser said the final plan will be submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation on February 1. It will then go to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The projects in the plan are estimated at $9.8 million.
