HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Billy Outlaw with the Hopkinsville-Christian County Airport gave a comprehensive presentation during the Jan. 13 fiscal court meeting, outlining the airport’s ideal plans for future growth in order to keep them relevant in the region.
“We’re excited to facilitate the growth of the airport and help the economic and physical growth of Hopkinsville and Christian County. We are, however, at a real risk of losing large portions of our market to nearby cities such as Clarksville and Madisonville and are outgrowing our airport very quickly,” said Outlaw to the magistrates.
The airport currently occupies nearly 300 acres of land east of downtown Hopkinsville and is classified as a public use general aviation airport. With a 5,500-foot runway, they are able to handle aircrafts weighing up to 62,000 pounds which includes anything from private jets to military aircrafts.
Outlaw said that they are one of a few airports in the region that are profitable, utilizing over $3 million in grant funding in the past few years coupled with profits from in house fuel sales. Christian County does contribute a stipend of $30,000 a year to the airport, which Outlaw says does not sustain their operating expenses for even a month.
“We wouldn’t be able to grow or even sustain without the tireless work we do each year to obtain funding on our own. Through both the state and federal systems, the grant money that we receive each year allows us to progress as an airport,” he said.
More hangars, future growth of the Hopkinsville-Christian County Airport
In the past few years, they have constructed ten new tee-hangars, and at the beginning of last year they built ten more. They currently lease 58 tee-hangars which can house multiple planes, as well as two large box hangars each at 10,000 square feet.
“We need more tee-hangars immediately actually because we’re completely booked and people are beating our doors down. We have a waitlist of like 20 right now,” said Outlaw.
Local businesses, private flyers and executives all utilize the airport day to day. This mix of use not only provides profits through fuel sales, but they boost the local economy by providing access to companies who are doing millions in business in the county. In order to combat competition from surrounding cities, he said the airport will continue pushing for growth and additional funding in the future, “It would be a travesty for us to lose jet traffic and economic viability due to our inability to meet our immediate growth needs.”
While the airport has had engineers draw up comprehensive plans of their ideal development, Outlaw describes the design as a “pipe dream” due to their lack of funds. These plans include continued land acquisition and development to accommodate new offices, new hangars, additional ramp space, and a restaurant.
He shared that an immediate need that could allow them to bring in additional jet traffic would be purchasing equipment to de-ice planes, which they are currently unable to do. This could cost upward of $200,000. He is also currently working with the Hopkinsville mayor and judge executive to obtain around 40 acres of additional land on the east end of their property to allow for development.
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