Aircraft won’t be the only thing taking off at Albert J. Ellis Airport (OAJ) in Jacksonville, North Carolina, this spring. Airport officials say they’re almost finished with the infrastructure work that will support new general aviation hangars.
“The hangars will be built by corporations or private individuals, we’re just putting in the infrastructure,” explains airport director Jerry Vickers. “That entails putting in utilities and the construction of a taxiway. We are also extending the general aviation parking apron and building a new access road to the site.”
The work is made possible by a $1.2 million Airport Improvement Program grant.
Vickers notes there is a waiting list for GA hangar space in the area. He anticipates the GA population at the airport to grow.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if these fill up fast,” he said.
The airport was built in the early 1970s and is used primarily by commercial air carriers.
“Now we’re working on building up the GA side,” he said. “We have not yet tapped into the potential of this airport for GA aircraft and the hangar construction will help us reach that goal.”