Accommodating aviators: Hangars unveiled at Palatka Municipal Airport

Addition of 6 spaces aim to alleviate lengthy wait list

Officials with the City of Palatka and the Palatka Municipal Airport join flight enthusiasts, Airport Advisory Board members and others in cutting the ribbon on six new hangars at Lt. Jasper Kennedy "Kay" Larkin Field at the airport Wednesday. CASMIRA HARRISON/Palatka Daily News
Andrew Holesko, left, CEO and senior planner with aviation engineering and consulting firm Passero Associates, speaks about the the six newly built hangars at the Palatka Municipal Airport on Wednesday. The hangars, which may be followed by two more, are expected to help alleviate the long waiting list for aircraft covered parking space at the airport. CASMIRA HARRISON/Palatka Daily News
Palatka Municipal Airport Advisory Board Chairman Jud Neufeld, left, bestows a plaque of appreciation to former Palatka mayor Terrill Hill on Wednesday at "Kay" Larkin Field during a ceremony to unveil six new airplane hangars at the site. Hill was honored for his involvement in the airport’s advancement through the years, including his help in implementing the hangar project. CASMIRA HARRISON/Palatka Daily News
Positively Putnam FL

Aviators will soon have several new hangars to park their ride at Palatka Municipal Airport.

Area and airport officials, aviation engineers, flight enthusiasts and Airport Advisory Board members gathered under the newest shade provided by one of six new hangars at Lt. Jasper Kennedy “Kay” Larkin Field on Wednesday to cut the ribbon on the $1.3 million project.

The project was achieved through a $1 million Florida Department of Transportation grant.

Initiated in 2021, the project aims to help alleviate what has been a hefty waiting list for covered parking at the transportation hub, expanding the airport’s plane storage capacity from 65 to 71. The project was funded by a Florida Department of Transportation grant and, according to a 2021 report, was originally slated to cost $1 million.

Originally, engineers at Passero Associates, which oversaw the development of the project, said they had planned to duplicate the types of older hangars that sit adjacent to the new hangars. But those could only accommodate two or four planes, said Andrew Holesko, CEO and senior planner for the aviation engineering and architectural consulting firm.

“But considering the waiting list, and being able to accommodate more aircraft,” said Holesko, “Now we can accommodate six (aircraft) and there’s still room to do two more.”

That's space that is sorely needed, officials said.

Yul McNair, the airport’s manager, who replaced longtime manager John Youell last year, said in an email that the project took 11 months to complete.

McNair explained that these hangars will help — but not remove the waiting list for spaces, which in late 2021 was estimated to be around 100.

"The storage hangar project is part of an ongoing effort to accommodate the hangar demand being experienced at general aviation airports throughout Northeast Florida," the airport manager said. "The additional six (6) units will help but not significantly reduce the waiting list time."

In an interview prior to his retirement, Youell had stated that Florida is a "huge aviation state" where pilots can fly year-round, which makes demand for space at local airports significant.

Among the frequent fliers at the local airport are company executives from Georgia Pacific, owned by Koch Industries, as well as Bass Pro Shops owner Johnny Morris, whose Citation jet could be seen at the runway this week, officials noted.

"Mr. Johnny Morris thinks it's nicer here, too, than where he's from and we're very happy about that," said Jud Neufeld, Palatka Municipal Airport Advisory Board chairman, who was the emcee of the ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday.

During the ceremony, where newly elected Palatka Mayor Robbi Correa spoke shortly, Neufeld presented former mayor Terrill Hill with an appreciation plaque for his involvement in the airport’s advancement over the years, including his help in implementing the hangar project.

Neufeld, like others, stressed the importance of the project for the airport and community’s growth.

"Today, we witness a historic event for our community," Neufeld said. "We have development plans on every side of our operation and it just continuously gets better."