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Airport plans discussed

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XENIA — Local officials met to discuss plans for developing the Greene County Regional Airport Thursday.

Greene County Commissioners met with airport officials in a work session to talk about a new ramp, additional hangar space and eventually an expanded runway. Commissioners have previously expressed interest in developing the airport into an economic hub for the region.

“At some point in time it becomes a business decision,” commissioner Bob Glaser said. “And we made a business decision that we’re interested in the airport, and we’re interested in improving the airport. Well, that means that you’re gonna have to put some money in it. You can’t just talk about doing a project.”

While no plans for any of the projects have been approved, a cost estimate for the ramp portion of the project is currently in the works, with plans for a hangar estimate likely to follow. One tentative estimate for the projects put them at about $600,000 apiece, with the FAA likely reimbursing the county for 90 percent of the ramp project.

“If we’re gonna put the ramp in, put a larger hangar in, we’ll have more interest for other people to come to this area, because it’s more convenient than where they’re at right now,” airport board president Mike Gardner said at the meeting. “With the larger hangar, it can accommodate different aircraft … I believe we’ll get a little bit more traffic and business.”

The new hangar would likely include space for three to four larger planes, the type which county and airport officials are hoping to draw to the airport. Airport Manager Dave Kushner has previously noted how full the hangars are currently.

The extension project would see the airport’s main runway lengthened from 4,500 to 5,000 feet to draw larger business-class aircraft, which might currently be using airports in Dayton, Springfield and other surrounding areas.

By Nathan Pilling

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Reach Nathan Pilling at 937-502-4498 or on Twitter @XDGNatePilling.