Nov 12 2007
For Immediate Release
MidCoast Regional Airport Opens in Liberty County
Civilian and military officials gathered in force last Monday (Nov. 5) to cut the ribbon and officially open MidCoast Regional Airport at Wright Army Airfield.
The new $10.3 million airport is a combined military and civilian airport that was constructed under the joint efforts of Fort Stewart, the City of Hinesville, the Liberty County Board of Commissioners and the Liberty County Development Authority. The four backing groups came together back in 1994 to discuss the most feasible and economic solution for Liberty County's and Fort Stewart's aviation needs.
Now, a "Joint Management Board" made up of the local partners and Fort Stewart will manage the new facility.
MidCoast - so-named because of its position between commercial airports at Savannah and Brunswick - has access to two 5,000-foot runways, crash-cart capability and tower following. One of those runways will eventually be extended to 6,500 feet.
The airport also has a fixed base operator (FBO). The airport's governing board has contracted with Airport Business Solutions, a Florida-based company, to serve as the interim FBO. (An FBO is a private company that provides aviation services, such as fuel sales and aircraft maintenance, to planes using that airport.) Aviation gas and jet fuel are now available for sale.
The terminal and hangars were designed by L. Scott Barnard & Associates, and the Savannah firm J.T. Turner Construction Co. was the general contractor. Repaving of the runway and taxiways was done by Ellis Wood Contracting Co.
The terminal building totals 13,825 square feet. The complex includes a military operations building, 12 "T" hangars, five box hangars and a maintenance hangar. The civilian partnership will lease the military operations building to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Aircraft owners can lease the various hangars, and custom hangars may be constructed through negotiation with the local partnership.
Of the total price tag of more than $10 million, about $6 million came from various grants for construction and runway improvements. Contributing agencies were the Federal Aviation Authority, the Department of Transportation and the OneGeorgia Authority.
The opening ceremony brought out a full slate of federal, state and local officials. They included Fort Stewart's garrison commander, Col. Todd Buchs, and U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston. Joining them were Liberty Commission Chairman John McIver, Hinesville Mayor Tom Ratcliffe, State Sen. Tommie Williams of District 19 and Allen Brown, who chairs the Liberty County Development Authority.