AUBURN — For over 50 years, a cramped and aging terminal building served as a base of operations, gathering point, and first and last impression for those utilizing the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport.

After nearly eight months of work, a newly renovated and expanded 7,000-square-foot modern terminal now supports the nearly 64,500 aircraft operations that occur at the airport every year.

Providing a panoramic view of the main 5,001-foot runway, the terminal is designed to handle an estimated 25,000 passengers per year or three times as many as the previous building. The terminal features an upgraded passenger lounge, conference room, business meeting area, pilot lounge, planning area, a renovated restaurant, new gate, and expanded office space for airport administration.

With 35 publicly funded airports within the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems located throughout Maine, the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport averages 176 take-offs and landings per day, ranking it the third busiest publicly funded airport in the state.

Built in 1958 and designed in an era of modest security requirements and limited federal rules, airport officials recognized the pressing need to upgrade the aging building to meet today’s needs and user requirements.

“Airport security and heating costs were issues that needed to be addressed,” said airport manager Rick Lanman. “Building to modern energy-efficient standards is a big upgrade to the drafty relic we had before.”

Primarily funded through contributions from the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, and matched with airport land and rental fees, the expansion came in at $925,671, slightly under the $1-million initial projection.

Airport officials pointed to a 2006 economic impact study completed by the Maine Department of Transportation titled “Economic Impacts of Airports in Maine” highlighting the economic benefits to the region as a result of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. According to the report, the airport has an annual impact of over $20 million to the surrounding area.

“In the last few years, we’ve added over 70 new jobs in the immediate area of the airport with an average wage of over $25 per hour,” said Lanman. “I think a lot of people have overlooked some of the gains we’ve made at the airport even in the last five years. Since 2008, 27,000-square-feet of hanger space has been added and we are in the process of developing our $5.6-million parallel taxiway, funded by the FAA, MDOT, and the airport, which will reach a length of 5,620 feet.”

The airport currently serves as a base of operations for 109 aircraft as well as a resource for the Maine Forest Service, Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, Civil Air Patrol, Central Maine Heart Vascular Center, Lifeflight of Maine and many others.

Located just four miles southwest of the central business district of the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, the airport is surrounded by logistical resources including highway and rail modes of transportation, an intermodal transportation facility, the recently permitted second phase expansion of the Auburn Industrial Park, and a federally designated Foreign-Trade Zone.

“I share the vision of potential that the Airport and recent expansion symbolize because Auburn and the airport are both poised to strengthen the region for many years to come,” said Clinton Deschene, manager for the city of Auburn. “When corporate executives and new businesses are greeted by this incredible facility, we expect the terminal to serve as an introduction. We expect the terminal to set the stage and showcase the many other asset-rich opportunities this area has to offer as we welcome new friends and build long and lasting relationships for the community well into the future.”

Echoing those statements, Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald agreed that first impressions are key when it comes to attracting new businesses. “For the area to grow, having a modern, attractive, and efficient terminal sends a strong, positive message to the outside world that the Lewiston-Auburn area can compete with anyone in the global economy.”

Airport officials remain optimistic the airport will continue to expand in the coming years.

“Between 2010 and 2012, we saw an increase of over 30 percent in flight operations,” said Lanman. “When the economy begins to turn around, we will have the resources available to handle those future increases.”

Pointing to long-term growth projections as highlighted by the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Master Plan, airport officials say the new terminal is designed to handle anticipated needs.

“This goes beyond a simple remodeling of the airport,” said Lanman. “What we are actually doing is reconstructing how business is done and how L-A is perceived from an aviation standpoint.”

The new terminal will not only improve services but could improve how travelers perceive the Lewiston-Auburn area.

“I think it’s fair to view this airport as not just the premier aviation gateway to the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, but as a premier gateway to communities throughout the state,” added Lanman. “We built this terminal with the future in mind, not just our needs for today. Having assets like this to further assist our economic attraction efforts in the Twin Cities will be a big win for many years to come.”

Source: Maine Department of Transportation, Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Master Plan Update, Federal Aviation Administration.

Copy the Story Link