Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1183910
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 13-19, 2019 UCW 11 Fayetteville Regional Airport "is the window through which nearly 500,000 people a year view our community," said Robert Van Geons, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic De- velopment Corporation. Up & Coming Weekly interviewed him about the airport's impor- tance to greater Fayetteville's economy. "Our Airport has a growth-oriented vision for Fayetteville and our region," he added. Van Geons said residents are one connection away from over 160 national and international destinations, yards away from dozens of technology-driven companies and surrounded by one of the best marketing assets in our commu- nity's arsenal. Fayetteville Regional Airport is just that, a small airport with a dozen flights a day, 40% of whose customers are military members and their families. Bradley Whited has been the airport director for 20 years. He spent the last 10 years working to secure federal funds to upgrade the facility. His hard work paid off with $47 million in Federal Aviation Ad- ministration grants being allocated for renovations and expansion, "the objective being to improve the customer experience," he said. e airport is "a powerful economic engine that we are aggressively working to grow," Van Geons said. e airport staff is attempting to attract new flights. American Airlines and Delta currently serve the airport. Phase one of the development was a $20 million effort to elevate and expand the original concourse A. It was built at ground level 50 years ago. Passengers had to board planes in the open air. The new concourse A is now accessible on the same level as concourse B. A large circular atrium connects them. Both concourses have modern, new jet bridges. Phase two of the renovation will include completing the new restaurant. Escalators will be moved to the front of the build- ing, so customers arriving at the airport can check-in at the airline ticket counters and then go upstairs. Baggage carousels will be upgraded, and a full-length canopy will stretch across the exterior roofline. e third-floor mezzanine will be eliminated, and administration offices will be moved to the ground level. Restrooms are being renovated throughout, and a fire control sprinkler system will be installed. Whited says construction should be completed in two years — a year-and-a-half after Whited retires. He said he will move to the Charlotte area where he has family. He hopes he'll receive an in- vitation to the ribbon-cutting when the improve- ments are finished. Fly Fayetteville — A vision by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS Fayetteville Regional Airport is a small airport with a dozen flights a day, 40% of whose customers are military members and their families. Additional Information: transtech@faytechcc.edu • (910) 486-3626 FTCC's Transition Tech program provides training to transitioning service members seeking certification in the following areas: Commercial Driver's License Collision Repair Comprehensive Fiber Optics EMT Basic Information Technology Logistics Pipe/Structural Welding Solar Ready Vets FTCC Corporate & Continuing Education