Extension will expand the airport’s competitive capacity to serve larger commercial aircraft, jets
Southern Indiana Business Report
WASHINGTON — Launching a “significant project to increase our capacity and regional competitiveness,” local elected officials and members of the Daviess County Airport Board were on hand May 16 to inaugurate a $1.5 million project to lengthen the airport’s main runway.
When finished, the main runway will exceed 5,000 feet in length. According to airport manager Erica Burkemper, the present airport facilities can accommodate landing and takeoff of aircraft similar to a Cessna Citation Latitude or Citation CR650. The new runway can allow jets like a Gulfstream G150 or G300, Bombardier Learjets, and Dassault Falcons to land and take off safely, as well as heavier turboprop-driven aircraft.
“This project has been a long time in the planning and funding process,” said David Gray, president of the Daviess County Airport Board. “When completed, it will enable the airport to service larger commercial aircraft than previously.”
The $1.5 million expansion is being funded by the Daviess County Council and available airport funds, according to Matt Meredith, a member of the Daviess County Council. No federal funds are involved in the project. The project is being engineered by aviation professionals in the Indianapolis office of Woolpert, a national architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm.
“In today’s commercial business world, many companies charter a jet to conduct business, and many business jets require a 5,000 feet runway,” explained Meredith. “Our airport didn’t previously appear in key aviation character databases because of its old length, which will be updated when this project is completed.”
Executives using larger jets previously would have to land and be served at airports more than an hour away from the city of Washington. “This was not convenient for executives on a tight schedule,” said Meredith. “Having this new runway capacity will help with both attracting new companies and retaining the companies and organizations already operating in Daviess County.”
Officials taking part in the formal ground-breaking included Erica Burkemper, Daviess County Airport manager; Matt Merold, Daviess County Board of Aviation Commissioners; Dave Gray, Daviess County Board of Aviation Commissioners; Nick Kowalkowski, project engineer/grant consultant; Matt Meredith, Daviess County Council; and Tony Duncheon of First Financial Bank, who serves as president of the Daviess County Council and vice chairman of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC).
Also on hand from the airport board were Bernie Harner, Bob Wake, and Chris Kimball. Former airport board president Steve Fowler also took part in the ceremony, as he previously played a significant role in moving the runway project.
“This new runway represents a critical improvement and important strategic advantage for regional economic development,” said Eric Lane, DCEDC chairman. “When the $84 million WestGate One microelectronics campus is complete and open, we project even greater use of this new Daviess County Airport capacity.”
To make the expansion possible, the county, working in conjunction with Washington and other elected officials, completed additional land acquisition and improvements for the runway and area around the airport.
“Many people here collaborated with the airport board to make this possible, including airport officials, Washington Mayor David Rhoads, the Daviess County Council and County Commissioners,” said Lane.
The 130-acre airport already is home to several aircraft. “We are continuously serving commercial and civil aircraft, and our lighted runway facilities are open 24/7,” said Burkemper. “As the airport manager, I look forward to getting the new runway finished, getting additional hangers built, generating more interest in aviation, and further developing the airport as a tool to bring more business to Daviess County.”