A stalwart presence at Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) is gearing up for more improvements.
In a specially called meeting on June 16, members of the Augusta Aviation Commission approved an amendment to its lease agreement with StandardAero. Under the amendment, AGS agrees to commit $2 million for improvements and repairs to the facilities that the airport leases to the company.
Chris Bodine, Vice President and General Manager of the company’s local facility, told ABD the money is for improvements to its existing facility to meet the same standards as their new facility.
“This will allow us to service larger airplanes in the existing facility,” he explained. “We have some height restrictions on one particular hangar door. This will help us to make the hangar taller and larger airplanes to be able to occupy that space.”
StandardAero is an aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul services company. It kicked off a $33 million expansion in April 2024. It will add more than 80,000 square feet of hangar space and an engine shop, to the company’s existing buildings. That is a 60% increase in space. The existing facility was built in the 1970s, when aircraft were smaller. The expansion adds between 90 and 100 jobs to the current 200 employees.
The work will include removing and replacing the epoxy floor in Hangars A, B, C, and D, as well as in the engine shop. For the overhead door, the existing curtain will be removed. The new one will be two feet taller. A final improvement will be to demolish and replace the electrical floor boxes.
While the airport committed $2 million, the amendment calls for StandardAero to reimburse AGS for 25% of the cost of improvements and repairs. The reimbursement will be paid monthly, in addition to the monthly rent that StandardAero pays the airport. The monthly reimbursement payments will begin when the improvements are complete.
When work on the expansion began a year ago, Herbert Judon, Jr., Executive Director of AGS, said it was a vital component of his efforts to grow the airport.
“It’s going to mean more aircraft activity at the airport. So, more operations for the airport, more fuel sales, and more landing fees. As I mentioned in my comments, these types of business often spur additional spin-off type companies,” he said. “This makes the airport stronger from a financial standpoint, having that diversification.”
The desire to retain the company as a tenant at the airport was reflected in the recently approved amendment: “Augusta would like StandardAero to remain a good and valued tenant at the airport.”
Bodine said they want to stay in Augusta.
“We’ve been here 51 years. It’s been a great relationship, and we’d just as soon stay here than have to go start all over again somewhere else,” he said. “It’s a great place. It’s a good workforce. That’s a great relationship with the airport. The expansion and this all combined together, is more growth and really sets us up to stay here for the next 50 years.”
The amendment next goes before the Augusta-Richmond County Commission for final approval. It is hoped to have that completed by the end of this month.
As for the expansion, Bodine said the finishing touches are being made. An official opening celebration is anticipated on August 28.
The company’s employment opportunities are on its website https://standardaero.com/
