Today we watched in excitement as the former General Aviation terminal was being torn down. Although it was bittersweet, we are ready for the new GA terminal construction to begin.
In July we announced that the Chippewa County International Airport is receiving over $5 million in grant funds which will be used for the reconstruction and expansion of the airport’s general aviation terminal building to improve operations and efficiency for travelers and baggage moving throughout the airport. This new building will be funded in part by a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation.
“The new building will have state of the art technology,” said Tami Beseau, airport manager. “Online meetings, conference calls and computerized presentations have become the norm during the recent pandemic and our lack of technology presented many challenges as we continued to do business.”
The airport has been working with its Federal Aviation Administration partners for over 10 years to secure funding for this project. The funding for this facility was finally secured in 2019.
The current general aviation terminal is a former military building and in need of major repair. This new terminal building will provide a warm welcome to air charter passengers and pilots flying to the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The two-story facility will house Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation and airport management offices, as well as conference facilities on the second floor. The first floor will provide air charter passenger seating, pilot flight planning and aircraft refueling offices.