Atlantic Aviation breaks ground on $40 million project at Birmingham airport
A new $40 million expansion and renovation project will offer a first-class front door to Birmingham for future private and corporate aviation customers and crews.
Atlantic Aviation held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday to mark the construction of two new aircraft hangars, a new executive fixed based operator (FBO) terminal, a fuel farm, tarmac and ramps.
The hangars will be roughly 30,000 square feet each with office and shop spaces and 28-foot main doors for handling globally capable aircraft. Approximately seven acres of additional ramp area with concrete hardstands for large group charter aircraft will also be added, adjacent to private secure terminal space in one of the new hangars.
The 7,500-square-foot terminal building will include an open lobby and reception area, a café, multiple conference rooms, a large crew lounge and flight planning area, training area, expanded offices and locker rooms.
The revamped Atlantic Aviation campus will be the first place many general aviation, private pilots, charter and corporate customers experience when they land in the Magic City’s Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
“This FBO will be the first impression many will have of the city,” said Ashby Pate, chairman of the Birmingham Airport Authority.
While many of the developments are new, Atlantic Aviation has operated in Birmingham for years.
That the company is making such an investment speaks of its confidence in the airport and the city, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said.
“Thank you for continuing to choose Birmingham,” Woodfin said.
Jeff Foland said the new Birmingham campus will set the standard for future Atlantic Aviation projects.
“Of our 105 locations, this will be the new flagship,” Foland said.
The project is expected to take 20 months to complete.
“This investment in the expansion of our presence in Birmingham is a result of outstanding collaboration with airport and city leadership,” said Kurt Schmidt, senior vice president of operations for Atlantic’s Southeast Region. “And while we take great pride in the design of the new facility itself, we are equally as proud of the economic development benefits it will bring to the airport, its users and the local community.”
Recycled materials will be used throughout construction and one of the new hangars will have solar panels to offset its energy usage, while the other hangar will be solar capable for future development. Six electric vehicle charging stations will be part of the development.
Two smaller existing hangars will be demolished to make way for the new, larger hangars. Three other existing hangars and the current FBO terminal building will be retained. After the new FBO terminal is complete, the current terminal will undergo minor renovations to support continued operational use.