More modernization for Ohio State’s airport

Nearly one year after a new terminal and education center were completed, more signs of progress can be seen driving by or flying into The Ohio State University Airport.

A few hundred yards east of the Austin E. Knowlton Executive Terminal and Aviation Education Center, construction crews have begun work on a corporate air park. The 50-acre site eventually will include hangars for local companies and facilities for firms conducting research and development in aviation and aerospace. The first facility nearing completion includes a 32,000-square-foot hangar to house aircraft, plus 5,550 square feet of office space. Ohio State is developing the air park’s support infrastructure, including taxiways, roadways, and utilities.

Work also has commenced on the full reconstruction of the airport’s north runway, with enhanced safety as the primary goal. The north runway is often used by Ohio State student pilots-in-training and is also utilized for airfield research focused on general aviation safety, accessibility and sustainability. The Ohio Department of Transportation is funding 93% of the $917,288 project expected to be complete in the fall.

These projects and more are included in the airport’s master plan, which will be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration next month. Airport and university officials began updating the master plan in fall 2017 to identify current and future needs and gain consensus on investment priorities for the next 20 years. The thorough process combines community engagement with the university’s strategic vision to formulate the blueprint for the airport’s long-term development. Public meetings were held in December 2017 and March 2019, while an external advisory committee convened five times between October 2017 through May 2019.