Tuesday, February 14, 2012

St. Cloud airport General Aviation Building to get $136,000 in updates

11:18 PM, Feb. 13, 2012 
Written by  Kari Petrie

St. Cloud Regional Airport’s gateway for high-profile travelers is getting a facelift.

The General Aviation Building will get $136,000 in upgrades, including a new roof, carpeting, canopy and a restroom remodel. Its windows will also be tinted to make the building more energy efficient.

Minnesota Department of Transportation Aeronautics will contribute about $90,000; the rest will come out of the airport’s budget.

The General Aviation Building is separate from the main terminal. It serves private flights while the main terminal building is for scheduled commercial service.

The two services have to be separated for security reasons, Airport Director Bill Towle said.

Passengers on a variety of different aircraft go through the building, from small two-seater planes to large corporate jets.

Corporate executives come through the General Aviation Building. Recently, GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul came through the building.

“This is the gateway to the community for them,” Towle said. “It should be a nice building.”

It is open to the public.

The improvements are focusing on areas that have passed their life span. The airport had done maintenance on the roof for years, but it’s now at the point where it needs to be replaced, Towle said.

The carpeting was replaced in 1995 and is in need of an upgrade, he said.

The window coverings will help reduce the need for air conditioning. There are shades on the windows now but they have to remain open so workers can see what planes are landing or taking off, Towle said.

Fixing the bathrooms was a top priority for St. Cloud Aviation, which leases space in the building. The company handles the corporate and flight school aircraft that fly into the airport.

Manager Jessica Filsmyer said they wanted the bathrooms updated and freshened to better serve their customers. New carpeting will also add to that updated look.

“We want to make it more comfortable for our customers,” she said.

Source:  http://www.sctimes.com

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