State Department Awards Grant To Subsidize Renovations

After several months of renovations, officials at Million Air Fayetteville hosted a re-grand opening celebration on Aug. 11 to unveil the newly upgraded fixed-base operations (FBO) facility, located at Fayetteville Municipal Drake Field.

More than 250 people, including current and potential Million Air customers, gathered to tour the remodeled FBO. Among the renovations included a new, state-of-the-art theater room, a "snooze room,"
commercial catering refrigerator and business office remodeling. Luxury customer accommodations were added to the main terminal lobby, including new furniture, a 72-inch flat-screen television and a complimentary beverage bar.

The $340,000 renovation project, which took eight months to complete, was funded by three entities: Million Air ($40,000), the city of Fayetteville ($200,000) and the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, which provided a grant for $100,000.

At the event, John Knight, director of the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, presented a giant check for the state's allotment to Roger Woolsey, president and chief executive officer of Million Air, and Mayor Dan Coody, city of Fayetteville.

"The state of Arkansas currently has only a few airports that provide service for commercial airlines," Woolsey said. "The addition of Million Air Fayetteville lays the infrastructure to bring more private aircraft, which have access to smaller airports, to the state and drive business travel."

Other noted guests in attendance included the following: Ray Boudreaux, director of aviation/economic development for the city of Fayetteville; Bob Nickel, chairman of the board for Fayetteville Municipal Airport; and Gen. Wesley K. Clark (ret.), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and current chairman of the board for Adam Aircraft Industries.

In September 2005, Million Air took ownership of the Fayetteville location, which features a 20,000-square-foot hangar, along with 5,000 square feet of office space, including a lounge, reception area and conference room. On-site amenities include crew cars, limousine service, Hertz rental cars, pilot supplies, and weather and flight planning.

FMI: www.millionair.com