ERMA — Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) representatives, county and Lower Township government officials, local business leaders, and airport tenants gathered Aug. 20 to celebrate the construction of a new hangar complex, developed by local businessmen and the re-opening of the Flight Deck Diner at the Cape May County Airport.
Located at the western end of the airport facility, the new 10,000 square foot, state-of-the- art hangar complex was developed through the joint efforts of William Kindle of Kindle Ford Lincoln Mercury Dodge, Robert Smeltzer Sr. of Smeltzer & Sons, Inc., Ronald Gelzunas, D.O. of North Wildwood Medical Associates and Joseph Gilmartin of Century 21 Real Estate, Cape May.
Working in conjunction with the development group, the DRBA invested $175,000 in necessary infrastructure improvements including electrical and gas lines, communications, as well as water and sewer connections to help facilitate the hangar project.
DRBA Deputy Executive Director Donald Rainear said the hangar partnership was the beginning of additional investments DRBA would make in the county airport.
Smeltzer said the hangar project was the first of its type at the airport as a partnership with DRBA.
“No other hangar exists like this in the country,” he said.
Each section of the hangar is separated by walls, so each airplane sits its own garage like setting.
Kindle’s section of the hangar has doors on both ends allowing his Cessna Citation 500 Business Jet to enter one side of the facility and exit through the opposite side without having to spin around or change direction.
The facility is completely insulated and features skylights to allow natural light. All entry doors are electrically powered and each hangar section has its own bathroom facility, complete with hot water.
Additionally, each hangar compartment is wired for cable, telephone and Internet capability for access to current aviation information and weather reports.
While the facility will be used for recreation and business, it will also be used for “angel flights,” which flies critically ill persons to distant healthcare facilities, said Smeltzer.
DRBA Commissioner Niels Favre said he believed the airport would grow and “get bigger and better as the years go on.”
Lower Township Mayor Walter Craig said he and council have seen the county airport, as a “gem waiting to be discovered.” He said he hoped the project would get the airport on the right track and bring in commerce.
“I hope it turns around,” said Craig.
Freeholders, DRBA officials and the developers cut a ribbon to officially dedicate the hangar. Participants adjourned to the new Flight Deck Diner at the airport for refreshments and a meet and greet session.
(See a story on the Flight Deck in next week’s Herald).
According to a DRBA press release, since 2002, the authority has funded more than $8 million in capital infrastructure improvements at the airport, including security and perimeter fencing ($1 million); snow removal and operations facility ($2.2 million); runway and taxiway lighting upgrades ($2.3 million); snow removal equipment ($500,000); taxiway designs ($300,000); drainage improvements and obstruction removal study and design ($1.2 million).
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