Galesburg’s airport has received a promotion.
City-owned Galesburg Municipal Airport, for many years classified as a local airport, recently received upgraded status to a regional facility, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The regional classification brings significant benefits to Galesburg, say local officials, including a boost in services and additional funding for the airport from the FAA.
Michael Doi, director of Public Works for the City of Galesburg and airport manager, tells WGIL, “This is a huge win for the airport. It is the front door to the community for the over 45 businesses that the airport serves and provides extra funding at no cost to the city or citizens.”
Airport will receive additional funding, upgrades
With regional status, Doi said the Galesburg airport will received additional funding of approximately $150,000 annually and upgraded ranking for FAA funding opportunities.
“The FAA designating Galesburg Municipal Airport as a regional airport is an achievement and is certainly good news for the community,” said Ken Springer, president of Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development.
“Regional designation will enhance the airport’s ability to obtain funding for future projects to maintain and improve the facilities.”
The city will consider adding the word “regional” to the airport name, which has long been Galesburg Municipal Airport. GBG is the airport code assigned by the International Air Transport Association.
Doi said the city worked with fixed base operator Jet Air Inc. over the past year to raise instrument operations at the Galesburg airport to the required minimum for regional status.
Requirements for regional status include having a certain minimum number of planes based at the airport and meeting the minimum annual instrument operations (1,000 instrument operations per year).
“Jet Air and city staff believe the city has exceeded the flights for some time; however, pilots are not always required to file an IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) in a way that raises the count for the Galesburg airport,” Doi said.
Once the requirements were known, Jet Air, the city and the Airport Advisory Commission worked together to publicize the requirements and encourage pilots to follow the procedures to increase the instrument operations count. Nearby airports, flight schools and others were also notified.
Jet Air, a well known international aircraft repair company, uses Galesburg Municipal Airport as the primary hub for aviation repairs. Additionally, the airport sees significant usage from recreational fliers as well as from corporations and businesses.
GBG an economic development asset
According to Illinois Aviation, a division of IDOT, Galesburg Municipal Airport generates $8.9 million in economic impact.
“Galesburg Airport is certainly an asset for the community, and that extends to economic development,” Springer said. “The airport is home to an outstanding fixed-base operator in Jet Air, which does a ton of business at KGBG.
“The airport is also the home of the National Stearman Foundation, which operates a key community tourism event each September.”
The airport also is utilized to fly companies in and out of the community, which Springer said is an important resource for the business community.
“Lastly, we can’t lose sight of the fact that the airport serves as a public amenity for area pilots,” Springer said. “In short, I think the airport is pretty important and I’m glad to see KGBG’s status upgraded by the FAA.”
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois is home to 100 public-use airports and heliports, with nearly 3,000 registered aircraft. The system of airports supports more than 492,000 jobs, with a combined payroll of $21.9 billion and a total economic impact of $95.5 billion.
