The Northwest Regional Airport has hired AirBiz, an Australian consulting company to help the airport develop a 20-year plan and vision.
The company will consult with user groups, owners, stakeholders, and staff to determine the airports long-term plan. Both long-term and short-term visitor parking, coordination of aircraft, choke-points for pedestrian traffic, and overall flows of all airport traffic will be analyzed with the best plans put forward.
AirBiz will have until January 2014 to present their report of what the vision of the airport should be for the next two decades.
Northwest Regional Airport manager Carman Hendry said the holding room will be expanded as part of this project. The airport currently accommodates 120 passengers in the hold room at one time. With increased flight traffic expected, the airport will need to expand this, along with the arrival area and baggage screening area.
“[The baggage screening area] will be at least double in size,” Hendry said.
Hendry hopes to see better logistical control on the apron, as he explained a new layout of the tarmac is needed.
“If we don't come up with a different plan it will be congested,” Hendry explained.
The airport is confident the next 10 years will see an increase in airport traffic as the economy continues to grow.
However, for the 20-year plan, they want to ensure the plan is a living document that can be adjusted in the event of economic downturn.