b'TAXIWAYSDCU57These companies are among 15 to 20 major businesses that do a lot of shipping [through DCU], Fox says. We also provide support for United States Army fulfillment and weapons testing.Businesses are moving operations to our airport, so we needed to get in front of these opportunities by laying down the infrastructure needed to build more facilities here.Period of TransitionThe master plan developed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood reflects DCUs rapid and ongoing transition from a light general aviation airport to one that accommodates corporations and on-demand cargo. Matt Thomason, an aviation planning leader with the firm, explains that a plan for developing the northwest zone already was in place, but it no longer suited the airportsMATT THOMASONevolving customer base. And there was no plan for developing the southeast zone when the airport hired Goodwyn Mills Cawood in 2022 to create the master plan.It was important to look at the different customer bases and figure out how the airport can serve all of those needs, says Thomason, who is project manager for the northwest and southeast development zones.Planners separated cargo, general aviation and maintenance, repair and overhaul operations because each has different needs and design requirements. The southeast development zone, which help it serve commercial and military clients in the aerospace andused to include a grass airstrip, was attractive for development vehicle industries, Fox notes.because of its ample available land. It also is far away from other aviation operations, Thomason notes.The airport also has a letter of intent from another company to build a roughly 36,000-square-foot hangar and office facility in itsFor a number of reasons, including safety, security concerns southeast sector. and customer needs, we really took care to not mix and match aviation activities, he advises. Ideally, you dont promote industrial Were soaring to new heights as an airport, says Fox. Pryoraviation mixing with corporate business aviation, nor do you want Field is getting on the map. cargo comingling with recreational activities.We may not be hiring a bunch of people, but we impact thousandsBy separating all of these activities, you fulfill the airports of jobs by supporting operations for companies outside the fence. true mission to provide the best services for the flying public, Thomason continues. The only place where commonality is critical Responding to Demand is at the main terminal ramp and fixed base operations area.Why all the development at DCU? Rapid economic growth in Limestone County, which includes the cities of Decatur and Athens, and in Huntsville, an aerospace center just a few miles away that is known as Rocket City.Limestone County is the fastest-growing county in Alabama, Fox reports. And Huntsville is ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States.Northern AlabamaHuntsville, in particularis home to many major companies, including a joint Mazda Toyota manufacturing facility; the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, a rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center operated by NASA; andPlanningPolaris, which builds off-road and recreational vehicles. DELTA AIRPORT EngineeringCONSULTANTS, INC. EnvironmentalIn addition, United Launch Alliancea joint ventureIndustry Analysiswww.deltaairport.com Program Managementbetween Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Construction AdministrationSpace and Securityis based in Decatur. Business & Financial PlanningAirportImprovement.comOctober 2024'