The Owensboro–Daviess County Airport Board is moving ahead with plans to build new T-hangars, taking formal action Tuesday to approve agreements that pave the way for design, bidding, and eventual construction. The decision comes nearly 6 months after the board first announced its intent to use $2.5 million in state funding to address the shortage of hangar space for private aircraft.
The project is expected to finally address a waitlist of about 20 aircraft owners who have been seeking hangar space, marking the first major expansion of hangar infrastructure at the Owensboro–Daviess County Airport in roughly 40 years.
During their meeting on Tuesday, OWB board members first approved an agreement with Jetway that includes language ensuring any insurance proceeds the company has received, or will receive, for damage to the existing hangars will be directed to the airport.
With that approval in place, the board also authorized GMC to handle the design, bidding, and construction phases under the airport’s master agreement with the firm. Airport Director Tristan Durbin said an independent fee evaluation confirmed GMC’s proposal came in lower than another firm considered for the work.
Questions were raised about whether all of the listed services in the work authorization — such as construction administration, observation, quality assurance, and surveying — were necessary. Durbin emphasized the importance of having GMC oversee the project as a single package, noting it provides consistency, fulfills state and federal requirements, and avoids the cost and delays of bidding each component separately.
Durbin said the project will now enter the design phase. Whether the taxiway will be expanded will be determined during the design process based on the types of aircraft expected to use the hangars. Bids will be brought back to the board for approval before any construction begins, Durbin said.
The agreements with Jetway and GMC are contingent upon the execution of a lease amendment with Jetway, but airport leaders said they are optimistic about moving forward.
State funding was allocated to OWB through Kentucky House Bill 1 in 2024. Airport officials previously said preliminary cost estimates indicate the project aligns well with the $2.5 million allocation from the state, with an expected annual revenue increase of approximately $30,000 for the airport.
In February, several board members highlighted the demand for hangar space, noting the diverse range of individuals on the waitlist, including younger pilots entering aviation.
“There’s a wide range of airplane owners, from younger individuals in their 20s to longtime aviation enthusiasts,” Durbin said at the time. “The demand is there, and we expect to fill these hangars quickly.”
Board members also noted that successful implementation of this project could increase the airport’s chances of receiving additional state funding in the future. Beyond direct revenue from rentals, additional benefits include increased fuel sales and more aircraft operations at the airport.
“When you have people interested in the airfield, other things happen,” Durbin said previously. “It creates educational opportunities and strengthens our aviation community.”
