MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An agreement that would allow for an area contracting company to develop a new hangar at the Morgantown Municipal Airport is now under consideration of the Morgantown City Council.
The council moved the ordinance that would approve a 25-year commercial lease agreement between Shaft Drillers International and the airport to their agenda after a presentation from Airport Director Jonathan Vrabel during their committee of the whole Tuesday. Vrabel presented the proposed lease to the council, where he stated that the company based out of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, aims to invest approximately $12 million into the airport as part of an effort to relocate company aircraft.
“They’re interested in building a hangar at our airport, the hangar would be located adjacent to the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Building and administrative offices,” said Vrabel.
According to Vrabel, Shaft Drillers International would develop a 20,000 square-foot hangar at the Morgantown Municipal Airport pending the council’s approval. If it moves forward, the new hangar would become the largest built at the airport, taking over the spot formerly held by the 15,000 square foot hangar that used to be used by Mylan Pharmaceuticals. According to Vrabel, the lease would contribute just over $11,000 a year annually for the airport, with the property able to be reverted to the airport’s ownership after the 25-year lease expires.
“They’re estimating that it’s going to cost close to $12 million to build, and this agreement will bring the airport a little over $11,000 a year in the land lease,” Vrabel said.
Shaft Drillers International will bring close to a half dozen aircraft into the Morgantown Municipal Airport if the lease is approved by the council. According to Vrabel, this will consist of a combination of corporate jets and helicopters that are used for projects around the Morgantown area. With the company already making long-term investments in the Morgantown area and the current Latrobe, Pa. location of their aircraft, it was determined a relocation of assets was needed.
“They have three corporate jets that they currently fly, and they also have two helicopters,” said Vrabel. “Their aircraft are currently in Latrobe, Pa., they would like to have those aircraft relocated to Morgantown, where it’s more efficient for them to be able to use,” he said.
The company aircraft is currently managed by an aircraft management company in Latrobe.
If the lease agreement is approved by the Morgantown City Council, construction of the hangar must begin within 120 days of the lease agreement’s adoption and be finished within a year of breaking ground. This would also coincide with the first full year of operations of jet service provider SkyWest Airlines, who was named as the Essential Air Service in Morgantown by the United States Department of Transportation. With more large-scale aircraft expected to be seen at the Morgantown Municipal Airport, Vrabel encouraged the council to strongly consider approving the agreement.
“This will wind up being the largest hangar at our airport,” Vrabel said, encouraging council support. “It is bigger than all of the other hangars that we currently have, so it’ll wind up being one of the largest hangars that will be at the property,” he said.
The lease agreement is expected to be discussed by the Morgantown City Council during their regular meetings scheduled in February.