It took almost four years to plan…about six months to build…and just minutes to fall in love with. They cut the ribbon today on the sparkling new air terminal for Dowagiac Municipal Airport during the noon hour and the wait is finally over for a modern facility to accommodate pilots of all kinds when utilizing the airfield for business, pleasure, or any other function.
The planning process was lengthy due to grant applications and various decisions that needed to be made along the way. The new, one story, terminal is just under 1,100 square feet and cost around $680,000 in total from design to construction and outfitting.
Dowagiac Municipal Airport is largely used by business travelers, with recreational pilots, agricultural crop dusting services, and others rounding out the clientele. The previous terminal was built back in the 1960s, making it 50-years old or better. Airport Manager Oscar Azevedo told reporters last summer when construction got started that the previous structure had run its course and its life expectancy had expired.
Thanks to the diligence of city officials, the vast majority of the cost of construction — some 95-percent — was covered by a federal grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation, with the city picking up the remaining 5-percent of the cost.
The old terminal was no longer capable of handling upgraded technology in an efficient way and was seriously outdated in its design and appearance, detracting from the community’s first impression gateway.
Azevedo said when ground was broken the excitement was palpable since the local aviation community had been clamoring for upgrades for a long time.
The new terminal features the basic amenities for pilots and passengers including restrooms, weather & mapping information, a centralized rest area, and even a small kitchenette facility. One clear benefit of the new terminal will be the cost savings generated by far more efficient heating & cooling systems. The new terminal also features high-speed Internet connections, fiber-optic technology and Wi-Fi access.
Azevedo has reported success in securing additional grant monies from both the state and federal governments to help launch construction of additional hangars on the airfield, perhaps as early as next year.
