HCC President Clyde Muse and Sen. Thad Cochran Announce The
Airport Upgrade
Hinds Community College President Dr. Clyde Muse and U.S.
Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) announced Tuesday that the FAA will
invest $1.85 million for the design and installation of an ILS for
the John Bell Williams Airport. The funding is a collaborative
result between Cochran, the FAA and Hinds Community College, owner
of the airport.
Muse, acknowledging Cochran’s role, said the FAA award
will help complete a six-year, $11 million capital improvement
program at the Airport, which is also the base for aviation-related
courses. “Hinds Community College and our airport patrons are
very grateful for the encouragement and leadership shown by Sen.
Cochran in helping us achieve this important next step in our
airport’s evolution. We have now moved from an outstanding to
superior general aviation airport,” Muse said.
“The installation of this ILS at John Bell Williams
Airport will not only create an outstanding teaching tool for the
aviation technology curriculum at Hinds Community College, but will
serve our state’s aviation community with an outstanding
all-weather service Airport,” said Cochran, the ranking
member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.
The Airport is owned by Hinds Community College, the largest
community college in the state of Mississippi serving approximately
19,500 students annually at six different locations. Hinds offers
aviation technology programs at the Airport - such as pilot
training, aviation management, avionics, airframe and power plant
certification - and an air traffic control training curriculum that
started in the spring 2009 semester.
Senator Thad Cochran
When the ILS installation and FAA certification is finished in
Summer 2010, the John Bell Williams Airport will have undergone a
capital improvement program that included reconstruction and
lengthening of its runway and taxiway to accommodate a greater
percentage of the worldwide business jet fleet, and building new
hangar facilities to accommodate regional demand from aircraft
owners.
Airport Development Group, Inc. of Jackson, MS, is providing
design, engineering and project management services for the ILS
project. “Our airport is ideally located in the rapidly
growing suburban areas west of Jackson. We are perfectly positioned
to offer a dynamic combination of aviation service and business
locations to serve this region of the state,” Michelle
Jackson, airport manager, said.