Published: May 05, 2008 09:02 am            

London-Corbin Airport expanding

Officials plan to use several years worth of grant funds totalling $300,000 for construction of T-hangars

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

Officials with the London-Corbin Airport plan to expand operations by using banked grant funds issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

These funds are issued to general aviation, non-commercial, airports by the government in the hopes of rallying support for these small airports.

“We had been getting between $100,000 to $150,000 a year,” said airport manager Larry Corum. Corum previously served on the airport as both secretary and treasurer.

Over the past few years, the airport had saved up approximately $400,000 in grant funds. However, the government requested the return of 25 percent of the funds due to conditions of the nation’s economy.

With the remaining $300,000, airport officials intend to build more than 10 T-hangars.

Construction of these hangars, however, will exceed the funding the airport has available. Despite this, and the fact that future grant funding is not guaranteed, Corum said the airport plans to proceed with construction of the hangars, with the airport possibly absorbing some of the cost.

“We had been short of hangars,” Corum said.

These hangars are to be built in a continuous line, with the walls of one hangar being shared with one of the walls of the next.

“We’re going to do the construction in phases,” Corum said. “We are now letting the bids for construction of the T-hangars. We have gotten back some good, solid bids.”

Currently, the airport houses 85 airplanes in 73 hangars. Rent charged for the use of these hangars is the airport’s primary source of income. The airport is independently operated and does not receive funding from the two cities it represents.

“One of the things about this airport is that we don’t depend on London or Corbin for support,” Corum said. “We are funded by the hangars and the fuel we sell.”

However, Corum said the airport does contact the cities when minor things, such as resurfacing materials, may be needed at the airport.

“Both cities work very well with us,” he said.

On June 28, beginning at 10 a.m., an open house event is planned at the airport to Celebrate the Fourth of July. This event will be free and open to the public. Corum said there will be airplanes, military vehicles, and possibly some flight demonstrations.

“There will be a lot for people to see,” Corum said. “I think we have a special airport here.”

        

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