b'HANGARSHSA77Aaron Ladner, project manager with Drace Construction, notes that the prime contractor worked with the airport and project engineer (Michael BakerMilitary FocusInternational) to minimize the cost and delay of the late- Unlike many airports, commercial airlines are not part of the stage change order. In the end, switching the system tobusiness model at Stennis International Airport (HSA) in Kiln, comply with the more stringent National Fire ProtectionMS. About 60% of its roughly 40,000 annual operations are for Association 409 requirements cost an additionalmilitary and government use. With an 8,498-foot runway rated $189,000 and delayed completion by 86 days.to accommodate the worlds largest aircraft, HSA serves traffic The most relevant advice I can give any airportfrom nearby Columbus Air Force Base, Keesler Air Force Base manager who is wanting to expand and find newin Biloxi, Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida, the Naval Air tenants for hangars is, if possible, have the tenant thatStation Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans, and other military will occupy that area involved at the time the hangar isinstallations.being designed to ensure you provide a space that isThe airport is also adjacent to John C. Stennis Space tailored to that specific tenant, Ladner says. Center, NASAs largest rocket engine test facility. Importantly, Aside from upgrading the fire protection system,the runway is inside NASAs 125,000-acre noise and vibration the project team faced standard issues associatedbuffer zone. with completing a major construction project on anWith our experience working with different Department of operational airfield.Defense contractors, and also with the training missions from It would have been a wholethe various branches of the military, weve got a lot experience lot easier to tell the airport toworking with military partners, says Bill Cotter, chief executive leave and let us build this hangar,officer for the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, but that was just not an option,which owns and operates HSA. Through the relationships jokes Jeffrey May, an associateweve built, military commanders and the contractors that vice president with Michael Bakerserve them feel comfortable using our services.International. JEFFREY MAY About four times per year, the airport receives Antonov To keep things running smoothly, the engineeringAn-124 Ruslan, the second-heaviest gross weight production team emphasized strategic phasing and instituted acargo airplane in existence. In fact, that aircraft may now be strong safety plan that clearly delineated constructionthe worlds heaviest cargo aircraft. Some reports indicate areas from aircraft operation areas. Weekly constructionthat the larger Antonov An-225 Mriya (a one-of-a-kind) was meetings with all parties kept everyone on track, destroyed earlier this year during the Russian invasion of adds May.Ukraine. The Antonov An-124 Ruslan that uses HSA delivers high-bypass turbofan engines to the Rolls-Royce Outdoor Jet Looking ahead, Cotter reports that partial fundingEngine Test Facility at Stennis Space Center. is in place for constructing additional hangars within the next few yearsone with 18,000 square feet of space and another similar in size to the corporate hangar completed last fall.Hangar&DoorExpertsUltimately, he would like to build at least one more hangar that is 100,000ExpEriEncEd|TimE-TEsTEdsquare feet or larger. Were watching the steel market and the overall market to determine when the right time is to pull the trigger, says Cotter. Ladner, who grew up near the airport, notes that a lot has changed at HSA. In all my years, I never remembered any construction, expansion or anything changing at the airport, he reflects. Now, things are getting built and people are constantly talking about expansion. That airportStart to FiniSH ExpErtiSEis definitely moving!Single-source for Design, Manufacturing, Erection & Service800.274.0144|FulFab.comAirportImprovement.comSeptember 2022'