Former Air Force Base Sees New Life As Growing Passenger
Hub
Last year, then-New York Attorney
General Eliot Spitzer visited Plattsburgh International Airport
(PBG) in the midst of construction of its new terminal... and
became the airport's first passenger arrival. On Thursday,
now-Governor Spitzer returned to see the completed terminal which
was opened in June, and to make a further state contribution toward
the airport's continuing development.
"The State will invest $2 million to support the community's
efforts to retrofit one 28,000 square foot hangar -- an Air Force
nose dock hangar -- with insulation, electric heat and doors,
transforming it from a Cold War relic into a key tool for
attracting investment to the airport and the region," Spitzer said
to a crowd of business and community leaders gathered in the
terminal lobby.
As ANN reported, Plattsburgh
International Airport was created from the former Plattsburgh Air
Force Base, and features a variety of aviation structures and
facilities given to the community by the federal government for
redevelopment. These include several 28,000 SF hangars, some of
which have already been updated for occupancy by aviation tenants.
Thursday's funding commitment by the Governor will permit the
airport to modernize an additional hangar.
"The Governor understands that we have active interest from
aviation and aerospace companies in hangar space at Plattsburgh,"
states Garry Douglas, President of the Plattsburgh-North Country
Chamber of Commerce. "Today's announcement will allow us to
accelerate the modernization of another hangar, thereby allowing us
to attract and accommodate another tenant and create more
jobs."
Spitzer also met with airport and economic development leaders
at the terminal and discussed other ways that the state can assist
in airport development and marketing, including the attraction of
additional air services in the future.
Plattsburgh International is a multi-purpose airport and
aerospace park, located one hour south of Montreal and serving the
region of northern New York and southern Quebec. Marketed as
"Montreal's US Airport," PBG's growing tenant base includes Pratt
& Whitney Canada, Wood Group and the northern border air wing
of the US Department of Homeland Security, among others.
SheltAir, an aviation service company based in Fort Lauderdale,
is the airport's FBO... and the airport recently won air service
announcements from Delta Connection and Allegiant.