Taking Flight

A Look at the Top Aviation & Aerospace Sites in the South

The South is no stranger to aviation. In fact, the industry emerged right here when the first plane took flight in Kitty Hawk, NC a century ago. Today, the region is a preferred location for many of the largest companies in aviation and aerospace.

That's because the South has an abundance of land that is affordable and adjacent to runways. Combine that with lower all-around costs, a favorable climate year-round, an ample supply of power and water for manufacturing, a highly skilled labor force, and a population base more than double that of the Northeast. Add it all up and the South becomes the obvious location choice.

Then there's the South's rich military aviation history. Alabama's Fort Rucker is the headquarters for the U.S. Army's Aviation Branch, Tampa's MacDill Air Force Base serves the Central Command Center for the operations in Iraq, and NASA has consistently chosen the South for its operations, sending most of its brain trust and launching facilities to southern states.

Moreover, industry titans like Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin all have a presence in the South. And, the region's educational institutions are developing programs to enhance the workforce quality available to aviation and aerospace businesses. The region also boasts some of the largest airports in the country adjoined by prime industrial sites.

Increasingly, companies are taking notice of the South's many strengths. In this year's SB&D 100, our annual rundown of the year's top deals deals, 30 come from the aviation/aerospace sectors. Our previous record was 17 set in 1998.

Take a tour around the South as SB&D uncovers the Top Sites for Aviation & Aerospace.

Alabama

Brookley Complex - Mobile, Alabama

The Brookley Complex sits on 1,700 acres near downtown Mobile. A former U.S. Air Force base, Brookley has been transformed into a leading industrial and trade complex built around a fully operational airfield with a 9,600-foot runway. The site is adjacent to Interstate 10 and CSX railroad and has water access to Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The University of Mobile, University of South Alabama, and Springhill College are in the area. Designated a Foreign Trade Zone, this site draws from a labor force of 273,000 in a five-county area.

Jetplex Industrial Park South - Huntsville, Alabama

Jetplex offers 900 acres of land zoned for light industrial use just minutes away from Huntsville International Airport and with easy access to Interstate 565, the International Intermodal Center, and the U.S. Customs Port of Entry. The region, which is home to the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, has an active aerospace sector. In fact, Huntsville has representation from nearly every major U.S. aerospace corporation, including Boeing and Raytheon, with more than 250 companies employing more than 27,000 people in the local aerospace/defense industries. The region's civilian labor pool totals 358,000 and an additional 11,000 active military personnel serve at the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal.

Dothan Airport Industrial Park - Dothan, Alabama

Dothan Airport Industrial Park offers 300 acres just minutes away from Fort Rucker, the headquarters for the U.S. Army's Aviation Branch. Dothan Regional Airport has an 8,500-foot all-weather jet runway, as well as a 5,000-foot general aviation runway, and recently completed a new terminal that offers modern conveniences to passenger and cargo users. Several colleges and universities are within close proximity, including Enterprise Ozark Community College, the only public two-year college in the U.S. with the mission of educating aviation technicians, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus at Fort Rucker, Wallace Community College, and Troy State University. Located in a Foreign Trade Zone, Dothan Airport also boasts a highly trained workforce that includes 168,000 civilian workers and 6,000 active military personnel.

Airport Industrial & Commercial Park - Montgomery, Alabama

Airport Industrial & Commercial Park sits on 1,044 acres of land in the state capital, just a mile away from Montgomery Regional Airport/Dannelly Field. The airport has one 9,001-foot runway and one 4,010-foot runway, and the terminal is currently undergoing a $25 million renovation. Montgomery is a favorite for aviation companies. The region is home to industry leaders like GKN Aerospace, Airbus, Kelly Aerospace, and Sykorski, which builds Blackhawk Helicopters. Fort Rucker, the headquarters for the U.S. Army's Aviation Branch, is only an hour's drive away in Ozark and is home to an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus.

Located in the heart of Alabama, Montgomery is intersected by Interstate 85 running east-west and I-65 running north-south and is within easy driving distance of Atlanta, Birmingham and Mobile. In fact, about one third of the U.S. population is within a 600-mile radius. The Airport Industrial & Commercial Park is fully developed and strategically located directly off U.S. Highway 80 at Mitchell Young Road, which was recently widened to a three-lane road to offer improved access from the highway.

Airport Industrial & Commercial Park tenants include Mobis Alabama, a manufacturer of automobile cockpit modules that employs 865, and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing, Alabama's largest tier-one supplier. Norment Industries, a bulletproof door and window manufacturer, Harris Concrete Products LLC, a concrete block and brick manufacturer, and Feldmeier/Alabama Equipment Inc., a stainless steel tank manufacturer, have also taken up residence at the park.

Airport Industrial & Commercial Park has 900 available acres of land with adjacent rail. The region is also served by three airlines, and 48 major freight lines and has a civilian labor force nearly 275,000 strong that is already familiar with the needs of companies in the aviation and automotive sectors and is experienced at meeting them.

For more information about the Airport Industrial & Commercial Park, contact Timothy Wang, director of corporate development for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce at 334-840-9430, e-mail twang@montgomerychamber.com, or visit www.montgomerychamber.com.

Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport - Highfill, Arkansas

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is one of America's newest greenfield airports sitting on 1,500 acres in Benton County. Five airlines provide direct non-stop service with 50 daily flights to 12 destinations, including New York City and Los Angeles, from an 8,800-foot runway. Northwest Arkansas consistently ranks as one of the top 10 fastest-growing regions in the country and has a highly skilled workforce. Highfill also offers quality educational opportunities, including the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Aviation Technology Center at Fayetteville's Drake Field, which trains up FAA-certified A&P technicians, and several community colleges and vocational technical programs.

Arkansas Aeroplex - Blytheville, Arkansas

Centrally located in the heart of a transportation nexus, the Arkansas Aeroplex covers 3,200 acres, with 1,700 dedicated to airfield operations in the northeast part of the state. Few places in North America have the comparable hangar space and related buildings that are currently available at this site. A distinguishing feature of the Arkansas International Airport, located at the Aeroplex, is the all-weather, 11,600-foot concrete runway, complete with Instrument Landing System. The 2.5 million square feet of concrete ramp can handle all cargo or extended aircraft operations. The nearby Blytheville Municipal Airport has a 5,000-foot runway.

Little Rock National Airport - Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock National Airport occupies a site on the 2,200-acre Adams Field and handles about 2.6 million passengers annually. More than $170 million in capital improvements were made at the airport during the 1990s. Today, there are more than 120 daily flights into and out of Little Rock and three runways ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 feet in length. The site is adjacent to Interstate 440, only two miles from Interstate 30, and within one mile of the Little Rock Port facility. Dassault Falcon and Raytheon Aircraft call the airport home. The Greater Little Rock region offers 12 colleges and universities and has a workforce more than 310,000 strong.

Florida

Cecil Field - Jacksonville, Florida

The Former Cecil Field Naval Air Station is now a 6,000-acre airport development located about 15 miles from downtown Jacksonville. With easy access to air and rail connections and a deepwater port, Cecil Field is attracting aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations and a variety of aviation-related industrial and commercial development. The airport has four 200-foot wide runways, three of which measure 8,000 feet and one 12,500 feet. Currently, four area military bases and a naval aviation depot provide 4,000 annual separates trained in aviation-related mechanics. Aviation workers are also being trained at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. The Aviation/Aerospace Center of Excellence was created to train A&P technicians, Embry-Riddle has a campus there, and numerous other colleges and universities are in the region, which has an available workforce totaling more than 700,000.

International Space Research Park - Kennedy Space Center, Florida

The International Space Research Park is located on 320 acres just outside the fence at the Kennedy Space Center. This unique space research park is likely to attract research and higher education facilities sponsored by university organizations, commercial space experiment processing services, spaceport and range technology development and support activities, international laboratories and administrative support for NASA's global partners on the space station, technical and scientific support labs, initiatives to encourage space business startups, space technology brokerage activities, and business support services required by park tenants.

Orlando International Airport - Orlando, Florida

The Orlando International Airport sits on 14,672 acres, making it the third-largest landmass in the country and the 16th largest U.S. airport. This property features Orlando Tradeport, a 1,400-acre master planned integrated cargo center with direct airside access, 140 acres of cargo ramp, and a 205-acre Foreign Trade Zone. The airport offers two 12,000-foot runways and one 10,000-foot runway. The region enjoys multi-modal transportation with Interstate 4, Florida's Turnpike, and several toll roads, along with commercial and cargo rail and motor freight carriers. The site has various parcels of land and existing buildings ready for occupancy. Metro Orlando's labor force is young and abundant, with nearly one million skilled workers.

Georgia

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport - Savannah, Georgia

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport offers 3,500 acres of land for development just nine miles northwest of Savannah's central business district. The airport has two runways, one 9,351 feet and one 7,000 feet. The Crossroads Business Center and Savannah Port Authority Industrial Park operate within Foreign Trade Zone boundaries, as do Georgia Port Authority and the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. All four are on airport property, with quick access to Highway 80, Highway 21 and Interstates 16 and 95.

Middle Georgia Aviation Center - Macon, Georgia

The Middle Georgia Aviation Center offers more than 150 acres and features three additional industrial parks with an additional 600 acres within two miles. The Middle Georgia Regional Airport has a 6,500-foot runway and a 5,000-foot runway. Boeing, two MROs, and more than 30 aerospace suppliers and service companies call the Center home and enjoy access to more than 30,000 aerospace workers in the area. Middle Georgia, known as "Aerospace Alley" in Georgia, is also home to Robins Air Force Base, located just three miles from the airport, and Middle Georgia Innovation Center for Aerospace Logistics, a think tank established to address issues in the state's aerospace industry. Three technical colleges offer FAA-approved A&P mechanic training programs. A general aviation airport and downtown executive airport also serve the region.

Kansas

Topeka Air Industrial Park - Topeka, Kansas

Topeka Air Industrial Park sits on 3,000 acres with 1.7 million square feet of existing facilities and 450 acres of available land. The park features a 12,000-foot runway, state-of-the-art air control tower, Foreign Trade Zone status, and easy access to Interstates 70, 470, 335, and convenient connection to I-35. The park also provides onsite access to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway system.

Wichita Mid-Continent Airport - Wichita, Kansas

This 3,500-acre airport generates over $1 billion of economic impact through 14,000 jobs on the site. Aircraft manufacturing, servicing, flight training, and R&D share the spotlight there with Cessna, Bombardier, and Flight Safety as long-time tenants. The most recent expansion accommodated by Mid-Continent is a 450,000 square-foot Cessna facility that will be the largest jet service center in the world. There are currently more than 700 airside accessible acres available for development adjacent to three runways sporting four instrument approaches. The airport offers a 10,300-foot runway, a 7,300-foot runway, and a 6,300-foot runway.

Kentucky

Louisville International Airport - Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville International Airport has 20 acres of land available in an Enterprise Zone with rail access adjacent to the site and Interstate access just two miles to the south. The $20 million West Runway Extension project will expand the west runway from 10,000 feet to 12,000 feet with completion set for 2007. Home to UPS' international air sorting hub, Louisville International Airport is among the 10 largest air cargo airports in the world, with more than 1.3 metric tons of cargo handled annually.

MidAmerica Airpark - Owensboro, Kentucky

The MidAmerica Airpark offers 300 acres of manufacturing and distribution sites including several with taxiway frontage at the Owensboro/Daviess County Regional Airport. The airport has two business-class runways with ILS, a fully staffed tower, two FBOs, and daily commercial air service. The airport has recently been awarded federal grants to extend and strengthen the main runway to 8,000 feet. With a population approaching 100,000, the greater Owensboro area offers companies a central U.S. location and a large workforce.

Ashland-Boyd Hanger - Worthington, Kentucky

The Ashland Regional Airport is a general aviation airport with a 5,600-foot paved runway. The airport is home to the Ashland-Boyd Hanger, an available 35,000-square-foot metal and brick building and an attached two-story office building sitting on 13.3 acres.

Louisiana

Chennault International Airport and Industrial Park - Lake Charles, Louisiana

The Chennault International Airport sits on 1,600 acres, with 600 acres available for development in Southwest Louisiana. A Foreign Trade Zone and an Enterprise Zone, Northrop Grumman & EADS Aeroframe Services are among the leading aviation companies that call Chennault home. The airport has a 10,700-foot runway and a non-precision approach runway. Lake Charles is connected to the Gulf by means of a deep-water ship channel and is the seat and port of entry of Calcasieu Parish.

Acadiana Regional Airport - New Iberia, Louisiana

The Acadiana Regional Airport and Industrial Complex is strategically located along the future corridor of Interstate 49 South between New Orleans and Houston. The Complex offers more than 800 acres of available land and is home to the University of Louisiana Research Center, Louisiana Technical College-Teche Area Campus, and The South Louisiana Community College-New Iberia Campus, along with seven other major aviation-related companies. The Air Complex has an 8,000-foot runway, a 5,000-foot seaway and full service Air Traffic Control Towers. It is within 18 miles of the nearest commercial carrier at Lafayette Regional Airport with 29 flights a day. The local labor force includes more than 32,000 skilled workers.

Shreveport Regional Aeropark - Shreveport, Louisiana

Located in northwest Louisiana, Shreveport Regional Aeropark has more than 800 acres of land available for development. A Foreign Trade Zone and an Enterprise Zone, Continental Express chose to locate its new 148,000-square-foot maintenance facility there. Its central U.S. location makes the park readily accessible for any aircraft/aerospace-related industry requiring taxiways and ramp access. The airport has offers two runways, one 8,350 feet and the other 6,200 feet. The runways and taxiways have the highest weight-baring capacity called for by the FAA. The site is also close to two major interstates, a U.S. Customs port, and rail connections with a large pool of highly skilled workers.

Maryland

Phillips Army Airfield, Aberdeen Proving Ground - Aberdeen, Maryland

The Phillips Army Airfield and Aberdeen Proving Ground, a U.S. Army installation, share the land. The existing airfield has three active runways and associated taxiways, one is 8,000 feet and two are 5,000 feet. The northern part of the airport features 35,700 square feet of maintenance hangar and associated warehouse/flight support office space, approximately 150,000 square feet of apron and ramp area, and helicopter parking positions. Phillips Army Airfield is conveniently located within a few miles of several existing industrial/business parks in Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, and Bel Air, as well as within minutes of major economic redevelopment sites along the U.S. Route 40 Corridor. Phillips and Harford County are located on the I-95 corridor approximately 30 minutes from the population center of Baltimore and within one hour from Philadelphia.

Hagerstown Regional Airport - Hagerstown, Maryland

Hagerstown Regional Airport is a designated Foreign Trade Zone sitting on 387 acres of land and boasts easy access to the four-state region: Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. Its strategic location just south of the Pennsylvania border and less than one-quarter mile off of Interstate 81 is attracting companies like Northrop Grumman. The airport has one 5,451-foot runway and one 3,494-foot runway and has just embarked on the $60 million Runway Improvement Program to be completed in late 2007. The region has a local labor force totaling more than 71,000 and is within a 70-mile radius of more than 30 institutions of higher learning.

Salisbury Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport - Salisbury, Maryland

Originally constructed by the Navy as a training base during World War II, Salisbury Airport reverted to Wicomico County at the end of the war. Salisbury Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport is now the second busiest airport in Maryland with a 5,000-foot runway and a 5,500-foot runway. Local and national corporations such as Federal Express, Bayland Aviation, and Salisbury Engineering maintain hangers there and it's also the home of Piedmont Airlines.

Mississippi

Golden Triangle Regional Airport - Columbus, Mississippi

The Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTRA), the state's third largest, is centrally located between Columbus, Starkville and West Point. American Eurocopter Corporation, the second largest aerospace company in the world, is building an $11 million manufacturing and assembly plant there, bringing with it 100 high tech jobs and a $5 million annual payroll. The company's economic impact on the region is expected to reach over $17.5 million.

GTRA serves Northeast Mississippi with airline service from a 6,497-foot runway to the world through the Atlanta and Dallas-Ft. Worth hubs. The airport offers a fixed based operator, a charter service and fueling and maintenance for corporate aircraft. Local airfreight service is provided through United Parcel Service, Federal Express, Purolator, Cooper Air Freight, and the three commercial carriers.

Columbus is about 10 miles west of the Alabama state line and less than 300 miles from Atlanta, New Orleans, Memphis and Little Rock. The 234-mile long Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway connects 16,000 miles of inland waterways to the Gulf of Mexico from the Tennessee River to the Port of Mobile, Ala. Rail-wise, the Burlington Northern, Columbus and Greenville Railway Company, Golden Triangle, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, and Luxapalila Valley Railroad Company all serve the region. And U.S. Highway 82 runs east and west through Columbus, while U.S. Highway 45 runs from Tennessee to the Gulf Coast. Mississippi Highways 12, 50, 69, and 373 also serve the area. Of the 18 motor freight carriers serving the Golden Triangle, 10 have terminal facilities in Lowndes County.

The region has more than 250,000 available workers who have access to top-notch education and training facilities. Military personnel exiting from Columbus Air Force Base bring skilled disciplined workers to the region. Mississippi State University offers a strong engineering program. The East Mississippi Community College Golden Triangle is home to the Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence, a training institution focused on the needs of manufacturers.

For more information about the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, call the Columbus/Lowndes Economic Development Association at 662-328-8369, send e-mail to cford@cldlink.org or visit www.gtra.com.

Meridian/Key Field - Meridian, Mississippi

Key Field sits on 864 acres of land and is home to the Air National Guard 186th Air Refueling Wing, the Army National Guard 185th Army Aviation Support Facility, and the Meridian Regional Airport. At 10,004 feet, Key Field is home to the longest public use runway in Mississippi. Across the street is a 47-acre site with an existing 310,000 square-foot building. These properties are strategically located within one mile of Interstates 20 and 50.

Stennis International Airpark - Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Stennis International Airpark, a U.S. Customs Port of Entry, offers 100 acres accessible by State Highway 603 and Interstate 10. Stennis International Airport, located adjacent to the Airpark, has the second-longest runway in the state at 8,500 feet (with plans to extend to 10,500 feet in 2005) and more than 340,000 square feet of surfaced aprons and taxiways, including a maintenance and storage hanger and additional T-hangers under construction. The airport is also home to NASA Stennis Space Center. Located in a Foreign Trade Zone, Stennis is strategically positioned equidistant from the port cities of Mobile and New Orleans, and has two major deepwater ports of its own. Bay St. Louis is within 100 miles of downtown New Orleans, Gulfport/Biloxi, Baton Rouge, and Mobile.

Jackson International Airport- Jackson, Mississippi

With a U.S. Customs Port of Entry located on the property, Jackson International Airport is attracting tenants specializing in international air cargo. Combined with uncongested skies, a Foreign Trade Zone, and plans for an extensive air cargo park on the west side of the field, Jackson is an up-and-coming location poised for growth. Four hundred acres on the east end of the property is tagged for development. The airport offers two 8,500 foot-long runways, approximately 450,000 square feet of air cargo storage space, and quick access to Interstate 20.

Mid Delta Regional Airport - Greenville, Mississippi

Located on a 2,000-acre plot of land, the former Greenville Air Force Base is the only airport serving the Mississippi Delta. A sizeable portion of the airport is in the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone and is home to a varied group of industries and businesses, including Aviation Exteriors, Inc., the only Boeing-certified aircraft painting company. More than 700 acres fronting runways, taxiways and ramp areas, combined with the airport's success in industrial development, puts it in a strategic position to capitalize on the region's growth.

Missouri

Kansas City International Airport - Kansas City, Missouri

Built on approximately 10,000 acres of land, Kansas City International (KCI) Airport is one of the largest airports in the country, handling about 10 million passengers each year. The KCI complex has three runways, two parallel with 6,575 feet of separation, which can accommodate up to 139 aircraft operations per hour. The Kansas City region is also a major trucking center with the confluence of four Interstate highways and is the nation's second-largest rail center.

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport - St. Louis, Missouri

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport sits on about 2,000 acres of land and owns an additional 800 acres. The Airport's East Redevelopment Area has more than 500 acres of available land located at the northeast intersection of Interstates 170 and 70 and enjoys Enterprise Zone tax credits and other incentives. The airport is currently undergoing a major expansion program, the largest capital improvement project in St. Louis history.

North Carolina

Piedmont Triad International Airport - Greensboro, North Carolina

Piedmont Triad International Airport's 3,600-acre campus is home to more than 50 companies that employ more than 4,000 people. The site attracted Federal Express Mid Atlantic Hub, a $300 million facility that will open in 2009. The airport is close to all three major cities of the Piedmont Triad. Downtown Greensboro is within 10 miles, downtown Winston Salem within 22 miles, and downtown High Point within 15 miles. The airport has one 10,000-foot runway and one 6,380-foot runway. Construction on a new 9,000-foot runway will begin soon.

North Carolina Global TransPark (GTP) Authority - Kinston, North Carolina

GTP is an industrial park located about five miles north of Kinston in Eastern North Carolina. The site offers about 2,000 acres of property, which includes industrial sites, Kinston Regional Jetport, and a state-of-the-art education and training center. Kinston Regional Jetport features a newly lengthened 11,500-foot runway, the longest commercial runway between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. An upgrade is now underway to provide GTP with CAT III ILS, new cargo facilities have already been built and more could be added to meet increased demand. Designated a Foreign Trade Zone, the park recently broke ground on a speculative 120,000 square-foot warehouse facility.

Sanford-Lee County Regional Airport - Sanford, North Carolina

Sanford-Lee County Regional Airport opened its doors four years ago and is making an impact on aviation in the Research Triangle region. Located on more than 700 acres just off U.S. 1, the airport has a 6,500-foot runway with parallel taxiway and a weight capacity of 80,000 pounds.

Oklahoma

Ardmore Industrial Airpark - Ardmore, Oklahoma

A former Air Force Base, Ardmore Industrial Airpark sits on 2,200 acres of land in a prime location just nine miles from Interstate 35, which provides easy transportation access to points north and south. That's important since there is a regional market of more than 6.5 million people within 90 miles of Ardmore.

Midway between Dallas and Oklahoma City, Ardmore is especially well suited to serve the Texas/Oklahoma and South Central markets. The BNSF railroad serves the Airpark, running parallel to I-35, with a main line running to Kansas City and Chicago to the north and Dallas and Houston to the south. Ocean transport of goods is easily accomplished through two mid-continental ports. The Port of Catoosa near Tulsa, offers access to the Gulf of Mexico via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System and to the Mississippi river, is 215 miles from Ardmore. The Port of Houston, first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne commerce, is 350 miles south of Ardmore near the Gulf Coast. Hundreds of truck carriers also serve Ardmore.

With its strategic location and well-equipped airport, Ardmore Industrial Park's is ready for takeoff. The airstrip has two runways with landing lights. A 7,202-foot runway serves commercial jets and a 5,000-foot runway offers landing for smaller jets. The airport is home to King Aerospace, Higgins Interiors, Task Research and several non-aviation tenants and features full instrumentation, including glide-scope, adequate flight space for flight testing, an FAA-staffed control tower, rescue and security systems, and a full service FBO.

The quality of labor adds to this region's attractiveness. Oklahoma is a right-to-work state and has access to about 30,000 skilled laborers with high productivity and low absenteeism. Only 4.9 percent of the workforce there is organized. Manufacturing makes up nearly 15 percent of the local labor pool. Nine colleges and universities are within one and a half hours driving distance. The Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, The Training Alliance of Southern Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma's Training for Industry Program are committed to training workers.

The Ardmore Industrial Airpark is located in a state Enterprise Zone, and there are numerous additional tax and financial incentives, financing and business assistance programs available. Ardmore also has a built-to-suit program for companies that need a new industrial or commercial building. With a low construction cost index of 89 and favorable tax treatment, companies are leveraging this program to fast-track building projects in six to nine months. The Ardmore Industrial Park has 1,200 acres available for development.

For more information about the Ardmore Industrial Park, contact Brien Thorstenberg, vice president of development for the Ardmore Development Authority at 580-223-7765, e-mail bthorstenberg@ardmore.com, or visit www.ardmore.com.

Will Rogers World Airport - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Will Rogers World Airport sits on 8,000 acres and has two 9,800-foot runways and one 7,800-foot crosswind runway. The site offers 1,000 acres of land adjacent to a taxiway and runway bordering Interstate 44 with rail access. Oklahoma City is investing more than $1 million to renovate its airport terminal and add eight new gates.

South Carolina

Myrtle Beach International Airport - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Formerly the Myrtle Beach Air Force base, this location offers 1,000 acres of available land. The site has a variety of buildings left behind by the Air Force that are in excellent condition and a 9,500-foot runway that can be extended to 10,500 feet. Myrtle Beach has an available workforce of more than 90,000 with strong manufacturing skills with company-specific available through The Center for Accelerated Technology Training, state's respected workforce training program. The region is also home to the North American Institute of Aviation and the area offers an excellent coastal quality of life that helps attract skilled laborers.

Donaldson Center and Industrial Airpark - Greenville, South Carolina

The Donaldson Center is a multi-modal airport/industrial park with highway and railway access sitting on 2,600 acres of land. Formerly the Greenville Army Air Base, it is now recognized as a major aircraft maintenance and modification center with Lockheed Martin and Stevens Aviation employing more than 2,000 there. The primary runway is 8,000-feet long and made of heavy-duty concrete. Dedication of the new $1.3 million air traffic control tower is scheduled for the summer of 2004, and long?term plans include the construction of an air cargo terminal and the development of additional property adjacent to the second, inactive runway.

Florence Regional Airport - Florence, South Carolina

Just five miles from Interstates 95 and 20 and with rail access, Florence Regional Airport is a 1,500-acre site with two 6,000-foot long runways, both expandable. The airport has undergone $8 million of capital improvements over the past five years and offers 12 T-Hangers with plans to construct eight additional T-Hangars and a community hangar. There are several 100-acre plus industrial sites currently available.

Tennessee

Millington Municipal Airport - Millington, Tennessee

Just minutes from the Memphis metropolitan area and Shelby County, the Millington region is known as "America's Distribution Center" with Federal Express' headquarters there. Millington Municipal Airport is an important part of the area's multi-modal transportation system that serves more than one million people and includes the Memphis International Airport and north-south and east-west highway links via Interstates 55, 40 and seven U.S. Highways. Seven railroads provide service to all parts of the nation and the Mississippi River water system accommodates barge traffic year-round. Millington Municipal Airport offers an 8,000-foot long runway.

Smyrna/Rutherford County Municipal Airport - Murfreesboro, Tennessee

The Symrna/Rutherford County Municipal Airport sits on approximately 500 acres of land in one of the fastest growing areas of the state. This airport offers one 5,000-foot runway and one 8,000-foot runway and a complete instrument landing system. The airport is also in the midst of a major expansion of its freight and passenger capabilities.

Nashville Municipal Airport - Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the hub of the middle Tennessee region and has been a hot spot for growth over the past decade. Nashville Municipal Airport sits on about 200 acres of land with approximately one million square feet of building space.

Texas

Alliance Airport - Fort Worth, Texas

Over a decade ago, the City of Fort Worth, the FAA, and Alliance began work on the first purely industrial airport in the Western Hemisphere. Forth Worth Alliance Airport is located 16 miles north of downtown Ft. Worth. Operating 24 hours a day year-round and offering direct taxiway access, Alliance Airport features a 9,600-foot primary runway - to be extended to 13,000 feet - and an 8,200-foot parallel runway, capable of accommodating all types of commercial transport aircraft. This industrial airport is home to Federal Express, American Airlines maintenance facilities, and Cardinal Distribution, Galaxy Aerospace, along with Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Meacham International Airport - Fort Worth, Texas

Originally established to serve the United States Army Airways in 1914, Meacham International Airport is located five miles north of Forth Worth's central business district with quick access to Interstate 820. The airport has three runways; one is 7,501 feet, one 4,006 feet, and one 3,677 feet. Fort Worth has an aggressive workforce development program with American Airlines and Lockheed Martin among the region's largest employers.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport - Dallas, Texas

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, located 18 miles from Fort Worth and 15 miles from Dallas, is second-busiest airport in the world with an average of 2,000 daily departures and arrivals. The airport sits on more than 18,000 acres and has six runways, ranging in length from 8,500 feet to 13,401 feet. Four Interstates (20, 30, 35 and 45), two major loops and a number of state highways serve Dallas. The Dallas metro region's labor pool exceeds one million workers and 31 colleges and universities are within a 30-mile radius of downtown Dallas.

KellyUSA Business Park - San Antonio, Texas

Formerly Kelly Air Force Base, KellyUSA is a 2,000-acre master-planned international business park located at the country's southernmost major highway crossroads (Interstates 10 and 35). A Foreign Trade Zone, the site has a two-mile long runway and aviation, industrial and business centers ready for occupancy. More than a dozen other incentives are also available. Boeing Aerospace Support Center, Kelly Aviation Center, a Lockheed Martin affiliate and Pratt & Whitney call KellyUSA home.

Texas Central Aeroplex - Waco, Texas

Texas Central Aeroplex is located adjacent to the Texas State Technical College industrial airport less than one mile east of Interstate Highway 35. The Aeroplex has more than 1,000 acres of aviation/aerospace industrial development sites. The airport has two parallel runways, one 8,600 feet and one 6,400 feet. With award-winning aviation and avionics technology programs and customized training programs, Texas State Technical College provides Aeroplex companies with a readily available skilled workforce. The Aeroplex also offers close proximity to NAFTA Highway and more than 200 acres of Foreign Trade Zone land.

Ellington Field - Houston, Texas

Ellington Field is a joint use civil/military airport. Acquired by the City of Houston in 1984, Ellington now supports the operations of the United States military, NASA, Continental Express, United Parcel Service and general aviation. There are three runways; one is 9,000 feet, one 8,000 feet, and one 6,000 feet. Ellington Field is located approximately 15 miles south of downtown Houston, near Interstate 45.

Dallas Executive Airport - Dallas, Texas

Located in southwest Dallas, Dallas Executive Airport offers city-owned property available for lease to commercial or industrial projects. The airport has one 6,451-foot runway and one 3,800-foot runway along with 400 acres of Foreign Trade Zone parcels available for development.

Love Field Airport - Dallas, Texas

Love Field is a city-owned airfield dedicated to short-distance/commuter flights with its 3,700-foot runway. The airport is currently undergoing a renovation and is home to four major airlines. The airfield is 20 minutes from the heart of downtown Dallas.

Virginia

Hampton Roads Center North - Hampton, Virginia

Hampton Roads Center North offers 470 acres that are minutes from NASA's Langley Research Center, the nation's leading aeronautics federal research laboratory. This site is also new home to the National Institute of Aerospace. Further, it is in close proximity to several universities including Old Dominion and The College of William and Mary as well as being near several military installations and federal research facilities. Located in a Virginia State Enterprise Zone and a locally designated Technology Zone, Hampton Roads Center North also boasts a highly trained workforce that includes 15,000 exiting military personnel each year, many of them trained at the area's three Navy and Air Force airbases.

Newport News AirCommerce Park - New Port News, Virginia

Adjacent to the Williamsburg/Newport News International Airport, the Newport News AirCommerce Park offers airside frontage on a 25-acre aircraft apron that can accommodate wide body aircraft and direct access to an 8,000-foot commercial runway. The park is located in a Virginia Enterprise Zone with state and local incentives for qualifying companies. The region is home to NASA's Langley Research Center, the nation's leading aeronautical research laboratory. Aviation training begins at a young age in the region, with the Newport News Public Schools Aviation Academy. And the area enjoys a highly trained workforce that includes 15,000 exiting military personnel, many of whom are trained at Newport News' three Navy and Air Force bases.

New River Valley Commerce Park - Fairlawn, Virginia

The New River Valley Commerce Park is adjacent to the New River Valley Airport with direct access to a 6,200-foot runway that is expandable to 10,000 feet. The park is located in an Enterprise Zone and Foreign Trade Zone with easy access to Interstates 81 and 77.

Mid Atlantic Center for Aviation - Danville, Virginia

The Mid Atlantic Center for Aviation is adjacent to the Danville Regional Airport, a Class IV facility featuring a 6,500-foot runway and a 4,021-foot runway. The City of Danville just completed construction of a 6.2-acre, $3.5 million multi-use facility apron located in an Enterprise Zone. NASA selected Danville Regional as a Small Aircraft Transportation facility, one of only a handful of such airports in the nation. The airport is also home to Averett University's aeronautics program and is within minutes of the Institute for Advanced learning and Research.

West Virginia

Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex - Bridgeport, West Virginia

The Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex (MAAC) is known throughout the aerospace industry for its first-rate MRO services. The site features a 200-acre industrial park and a 7,000-foot runway. Lockheed Martin, Bombardier Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Engine Services call the site home. Located along the Interstate 79 corridor, a 73-mile region spanning four counties, MAAC is in close proximity to major East Coast markets and to West Virginia University's vast research and educational resources. The region is also home to Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center. The complex employs nearly 1,200 people in aviation-related jobs and offers innovative on-site government-supported and subsidized training programs.

John D. Rockefeller IV Science & Technology Center at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport - Martinsburg, West Virginia

This site offers MRO services and two runways, one 7,054 feet and one 5,000 feet. Strategically positioned in Berkeley County, businesses here can distribute overnight to more than 60 percent of the U.S. population via U.S. Route 11 and Interstate 81. Washington Dulles International Airport, Ronald Regan Washington National Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport are also within close proximity. A Foreign Trade Zone, the Center has several hundred acres of available land for development.

Raleigh County Memorial Airport and Industrial Park - Oak Hill, West Virginia

The Raleigh County Airport has two development projects in progress. The Raleigh County Airport Authority constructed a 55,000 square-foot shell building on a 5.5- acre site at Airport Park and is developing phase two of the Airport Industrial Park, a 300-acre tract at the west side of the primary runway.