In this Issue Eclipse Aviation Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to

Summer 2007
GNV
NEWS
News and Information from Gainesville Regional Airport
In this Issue
1
Eclipse Aviation
2
Terminal
Renovation
UAC
Announcements
3
Airport Picnic
New
T-Hangars
Airport Events
4
March of Dimes
Campaign
Results
Airport
Appreciation
Airport Gallery
Eclipse Aviation Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to
Officially Open its Service Center
Eclipse Aviation to bring up to 160 jobs to East Gainesville
The Gainesville-Alachua County Regional Airport Authority (GACRAA) and community
leaders joined representatives from Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very
light jet (VLJ), in June to officially open its Southeast Eclipse Service Center (ESC) at
Gainesville Regional Airport.
“We would like to recognize
Eclipse Aviation for producing a
high-quality, revolutionary product
and for choosing Gainesville as its
southeast service center location,”
said Peter L. Johnson, chair of
the Gainesville Airport Authority.
“This is exciting for the airport and
the community as Eclipse Aviation
brings new jobs and economic
opportunities to Gainesville.”
The 61,000 square-foot facility
Ed Iacobucci, CEO DayJet, Peter Johnson, Airport Chairman, Peg
is now open and staffed with
Billson, COO Eclipse Aviation, Allan Penska, Airport CEO, Pegeen
Hanrahan, Gainesville Mayor, Jeff Kyser, RW Armstrong, Gene Lamp,
management and technical
FDOT
personnel, as well as a full
complement of aircraft maintenance tooling and equipment. There are currently just under
20 employees at the facility with plans to add up to 45 more employees by the end of the
year. Eclipse has the ability to expand to more than 160 employees.
“I am thoroughly impressed with the collaborative effort put forth by the Gainesville
Airport Authority, Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Gainesville
in attracting Eclipse Aviation to our community,” said Pegeen Hanrahan, the Mayor of
Gainesville. “Our initiative to secure this high tech, revolutionary service will make
Gainesville a leader in the aviation field.”
The service center in Gainesville is the first to operate outside of the company’s
headquarters in Albuquerque, NM and the second to open. Eclipse plans to open additional
ESCs in Albany, NY and Van Nuys, CA in the coming months, with expansions into
other regions planned for 2008 and beyond. The $11.2 million facility in Gainesville was
completed by Scherer Construction & Engineering of Gainesville, Fla. Construction of
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the new facility began in April 2006. The project
received 50 percent of the funding from the Florida
Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Aviation
Work Program, and the balance was financed by
Compass Bank of Gainesville.
“Today is a great day for Eclipse Aviation, the
City of Gainesville and our customers in the
Southeast,” said Peg Billson, chief operating officer
of Eclipse Aviation. “The enthusiasm for the
Eclipse 500 in this region has been incredible, and
this comprehensive maintenance center will allow
us to deliver exceptional service to our customers
in this area. It is also an honor to be a part of
the state of Florida’s ongoing efforts to build a
progressive aviation infrastructure that generates
economic development and business growth for its
communities.” u
Airport CEO Allan Penksa, Representative Cretul, Airport
Chairman Peter Johnson, Mayor Hanrahan & Steve Harrill
of RS & H
screening area and meeter-greeter area to
improve flow. Enclosing the atrium will allow
more seating in the gate area to accommodate
additional passengers when multiple flights are
departing.
Airport Breaks Ground on
Terminal Renovation
The contractor selected for this project, Mil-Con
Construction Company of Jacksonville, started
preparing for construction in February. The first
phase of the airport terminal building renovation
was completed in November of 2005, which
included adding three new passenger boarding
bridges (covered walkways that connect the aircraft
to the terminal building) and partial renovation of
the airside passenger waiting area and gates.u
The Gainesville-Alachua County Regional Airport
Authority (GACRAA) broke ground on the $7
million Airline Passenger Terminal renovation
project at Gainesville Regional Airport in June.
The renovation includes a complete revamping
of the interior of the terminal. Once complete, the
terminal will have a modern, aesthetically-pleasing
appearance. Many of the major improvements
will not be as visible to the general public. The
largest part of the project includes replacing the
terminal HVAC system at an estimated $2.1 million.
Construction of the project is expected to last
approximately 12 months.
University Air Center (UAC)
Announcements
U
niversity Air Center is proud to announce
its recent designation as an official Cessna
Warranty Service Station. UAC is now able to
better serve the northern Florida flying public by
offering warranty maintenance repairs on Cessna
single engine piston aircraft, eliminating the need
for costly flights to Jacksonville or Orlando.
“These improvements are much-needed to maintain
the quality of the building. The project has been
very well-received, and I think passengers will be
pleased with the end-result,” said Peter Johnson,
Chair of the Airport Authority.
UAC also received a temporary Avionics
Repair Station number and is in the final stage
of becoming an FAA approved Avionics Repair
Facility, which brings a new capability to North
Central Florida aviation. Final approval from the
FAA is expected in the very near future.
Some of the major improvements that passengers
will notice include the enclosure of the open atrium
waiting area, new restrooms, new food service and
administrative areas, and changes to the passenger
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tenants reside in other states. Upon completion
in August, the Airport will hold a reception to
welcome the new tenants to our community.
Employees at the Airport Gather
for the 4th Annual Picnic
A
irport tenant employees prepared more food
than ever before at the 4th annual tenant
employees’ picnic. This airport-wide event had
more than 200 people in attendance throughout
the 2 hours. Most of the businesses participated,
which included airport employees, airlines, rental
UAC’s New Fuel Trucks
At a cost of nearly $500,000, UAC recently
replaced its entire fleet of aviation refuelers,
in order to better serve the flying public. The new
trucks are of a much greater capacity and are truly
state-of-the-art vehicles. Capabilities of these new
refuelers include large LED display gallon counters
and digital wireless transmission of all transactions
back to UAC’s front counter. u
Construction of New T-Hangars
at the Airport
T
he Airport is currently building 26 new
T-hangars with an approximate project cost of
$1.6 million. Construction of the hangars began
in January; 12 are 1,390 square feet and 14 are
1,050 square feet. All of the hangars will have
electric, bi-fold doors. Only one hangar is currently
unreserved.
car businesses, cab drivers, charter operators and
aircraft maintenance providers, the fire station,
Joint Aviation Unit, the Tower, Mil-Con (terminal
renovation contractor), TSA, police and security
officers.u
Airport Events
& Announcements
July/August: DayJet expects to launch service.
August: Chamber After Hours at the Airport.
August: Expected completion of new T-Hangars.
Construction of New T-hangars at the Airport
Many of the tenants will be new to the general
aviation community in this area. Some of the
For more information on these events, please contact the
Airport at 373-0249.
3
Airport Team Raises $6,500 for
the March of Dimes
at the Airport. We wish him all the best in his new
endeavors.
T
l Airport Board members and staff for
volunteering at the Airport & UAC Home Show
booth in March.
he airport wrapped up its March of Dimes
campaign efforts, raising more funds than ever
before. With the support of the business tenants,
the airport surpassed its goal of $5,000 and raised
more than $6,500. More than half a million babies
are born prematurely each year, and that number
continues to grow. In nearly half these cases, no
one knows why.
Airport Gallery
Right : ASA/Delta
Manager Ken
Williams gives June
Sager a prize at the
airport employee
Picnic
The March of Dimes mission is to improve the
health of babies by preventing birth defects,
premature birth, and infant mortality. March of
Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach
workers and advocates work together to give all
babies a fighting chance against the threats to their
health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight.
Left:
Airport
employees
gather for the
annual picnic
A special thanks to...
l Delta Connection/ASA for raising more than
$1,500 for the March of Dimes.
Right:
The 2007 Heart of
Florida Airshow
at Gainesville
Regional Airport
Airport March of Dimes Campaign Sponsors:
RD Air Services, Continental Connection,
University Air Center, Good Life Community
Magazine, Gainesville Regional Airport and Delta
Connection/ASA.
Left: Employees at
the Chili Cookoff to benefit the
March of Dimes
Airport employees for their efforts to support the
2007 airport March of Dimes campaign.
l Garrick Crocker, Airport CFO, for his
outstanding contributions made during his tenure
Gainesville-Alachua County Regional
Airport Authority Board Members
Peter L. Johnson, Chair
Joe G. Dunlap, Vice-Chair
Kinnon Thomas, Secretary/Treasurer
Billy Brashear
William R. Breeze
Mark Goldstein
W. E. “Mac” McEachern
James L. Stringfellow
Marilyn L. Tubb
Right:
Bob Rose, Garrick
Crocker, June
Sager and Kinnon
Thomas - 2007
Chili Cook-off
4
This Newsletter is brought to you by the Gainesville-Alachua
County Regional Airport Authority. For comments, suggestions
or article ideas, please contact Michelle Danisovszky, Manager,
Public Relations and Govermental Affairs, at michelle@
flygainesville.com or 373-0249.