Taxiway extension plans could spur future development at JIA (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Development plans to bring more general aviation businesses to Jacksonville International Airport are in the works.
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority is looking to extend Taxiway F, according to an application for an environmental resource permit filed with the St. Johns Water Management District.
Taxiway F is currently occupied by Canadian aviation company AvMax Group Inc, which uses the space for maintenance, repair and overhaul work.
The project — which will modify, rehabilitate and extend the taxiway — opens the door for additional tenants at the site. Work on the project won’t affect passengers traveling from Jacksonville or AvMax’s operations, said JAA spokesperson Greg Willis.
A mixture of aeronautical and non-aeronautical development could take place with the extension of the taxiway.
“It gives us additional opportunities for potential people interested in operating at Jax that operate in the general aviation space,” Willis said. “It could be an MRO. it could be something else.”
No particular companies have been identified as future tenants at the moment.
While the airport has the capacity to attract more commercial airlines, the development would open up doors for much-needed space used by other aviation-related companies that need access to the taxiways.
“The simplest way to say it, is if there’s a business that needs a hangar right now at Jax, there is not one available,” Willis said. “Or if they’re looking to develop and they need airside access, there’s nothing for us to develop. This provides us the opportunity.”