Schenectady County Airport to get new hangar, office complex

PHOTOGRAPHER: File Photo

Richmor Aviation opens a new hangar in September 2015 at Schenectady County Airport.

GLENVILLE — The state has awarded nearly $1.5 million in funding for development of a new hangar and office complex at the Schenectady County Airport.

The $1.485 million grant from the state’s Aviation Capital Grant program was announced Monday by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, along with capital funding for a number of small and regional airports around the state.

“New York’s airports are the front door of the Empire State, and in order to build in our efforts to attract new businesses and visitors, we will invest in these regional gateways to provide the best and safest travel opportunities for everyone,” Cuomo said in a prepared statement announcing the funds.

It was the fourth-largest grant awarded statewide among $20.5 million worth of projects announced Monday.

The money will pay for a new aircraft apron north of the airport’s control tower and water and sewer connections needed before the airport operator, Richmor Aviation, builds the $5 million hangar and office complex. The county will put $165,000 toward the project.

County officials, working with the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority, applied for the funding last year.

County officials noted that Richmor last year finished work on a 20,000-square-foot hangar that is being leased to REVA Air Ambulance, an air ambulance company that flies medical missions from the airport. The county hopes for an additional increase in activity from the planned business aviation complex.

“This major infrastructure grant boosts our efforts to build a new Business Aviation Center at the Schenectady County Airport,” said Anthony Jasenski, chairman of the County Legislature, who also thanked Cuomo in a prepared statement.

The additional hangar will be 30,000 square feet. By way of comparison, a hockey rink comprises about 16,300 square feet.

County officials plan to go to bid on the apron and utility work this year, with the goal of starting construction by late this year and completing it in 2019.

Also this year, county officials are planning a $4.8 million project to resurface the 7,000-foot main runway and replace runway lighting. With the Stratton Air National Guard Base one of the runway’s main users, the U.S. Department of Defense is paying $1.35 million of that cost, while the Federal Aviation Administration is paying $3.1 million.

In all, Cuomo on Monday announced state funding for projects at 29 airports around the state. In addition to the Schenectady project, $27,000 was awarded to the Fulton County Airport in Johnstown for replacement of signs.

“Modernizing our airports and transforming them into state-of-the-art transit hubs will keep New York state competitive in today’s global economy, while providing an improved, more-efficient means of travel for residents and visitors for decades to come,” Cuomo said.

Reach Gazette reporter Stephen Williams at 518-395-3086, [email protected] or @gazettesteve on Twitter.