Columbia Regional Airport’s record traffic spurs creation of new master plan
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Planning is underway for the Columbia Regional Airport’s new master plan which will help determine the future of the airport.
The Airport Advisory Board met on Friday to discuss the plan. According to the Board, the last master plan was created in 2009. Planning for the new master plan began a month ago after the City Council approved a new airport contract.
Columbia Regional Airport has seen record traffic this year with nearly 40,000 total flights (39,674).
The new master plan will help identify areas of future growth for the airport. The board discussed the need for more hangar space, as well as updating some of the runways and other facilities.
"I think future growth in all ways," Airport Manager Mike Parks told ABC 17 News. "So of course, the increase of passenger use of the airport itself. And the airport was also built out here in the 1960s. So, there are a lot of improvements that we’re looking at in the future and we want to see how we can accomplish those through this master-planning process."
The airport is also using public feedback to determine what projects need to be done. Residents can give feedback on a survey online.
"We are really looking ahead to the next 10-to-20 years for the growth of the airport and what improvements need to be made, based on what we have already accomplished here at the airport. With that, we try to get as much feedback from the public as possible," Parks said. "We encourage people to provide that feedback whether they are a user by flying out of the airport with commercial, general aviation, or possibly their business at the airport."
Parks added that the Federal Aviation Commission needs to approve the master plan, so the timeline for any future projects is currently unknown.
