PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Updated luggage screening, a runway study and a return appearance by World War II-era planes are all coming to the Presque Isle International Airport.
Passenger numbers have been on the rise since 2020, Airport Director Scott Wardwell told the Airport Advisory Board on March 14. February saw 1,352 passengers for 2023, compared to 879 passengers last February during a COVID-19 resurgence.
“We are having the best numbers since 2000,” Wardwell said “February was the best February since 2007, but only missed being the best since 2000 by eight passengers.”
Three factors contributing to this is better pricing for the airplanes, the passengers like the CR-J 550 regional jet, and the airport’s maintenance crews have been working closely together to keep the numbers of flight cancellations and delays down at the airport.
The airport received $4.5 million in Economic Development Administration funding and $562,913 from the Maine Department of Transportation to construct a passenger terminal for VALT Enterprizes, Wardwell said. The engineering contract has been signed and the first design meeting will be held March 16.
Another ongoing project involves upgrades to the General Aviation Terminal, which will include interior design, new flooring, changing furniture and cleaning the drywall for repainting, Wardwell said.
The Transportation Security Administration will update the baggage screening area with luggage scanners. The administration and the airport will share the costs, which are still being finalized. It will be the first time the airport will have scanning technology.
“We went through a master planning process over the last three years and as part of that master planning process we came out with a master list of projects,” Wardwell said.
The aIrport board works on those projects with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Civil engineering firm Hoyle Tanner of Manchester, New Hampshire, will conduct a runway approach study starting this summer to look at various landing opportunities at the airport, Wardwell said.
A lot of factors affect a landing approach to a runway, including distance, altitude, visibility and how a plane shoots an approach, he said.
“One of the things that we’re in the process of doing is going through and soliciting engineering services again,” Wardwell said. “We did that less than a year ago, but because we finished up our master plan, we have to go through that process again.”
The proposals for the engineering services were submitted March 15.
Other upcoming projects include pavement marking this summer, completion of the General Aviation ramp, and new display cases at the Presque Isle Air Museum. F.W. Webb will break ground on the solar sites on the north and south ends of the industrial park.
LaJoie Electric moved into the old Spudnik Building on Airport Drive and are negotiating the terms of their lease, after a fire destroyed the company’s previous building on Industrial Street, said Tom Powers, Presque Isle Industrial Park director.
Owners of C-47 planes will be back next year for the 80th anniversary of D-Day due to a great reception from Presque Isle in 2019, when 2,500 to 3,500 people turned out to see the World War II-era aircraft. That event celebrated the 75th anniversary of D-Day, according to airport board member Kim Smith.
Private Presquey, the teddy bear who went along for the ride, will make a return trip as well, she said.
The owners are a collection of individuals, private companies and museums. The Air Museum will pursue sponsorship funding to turn the event into a big air show.
On April 24, 2024, Presque Isle will be the epicenter of a solar eclipse with the city expecting between 10,000 to 40,000 visitors. Designated viewing areas will include the tarmac at General Aviation.
