The Progress continues on rerouting the English Coulee diversion canal.  The $2.6 million project by Zavoral & Sons, Inc. is scheduled for substantial completion late in January 2008.  The canal is being relocated farther from the airport's runways and redesigned to eliminate wildlife-attracting standing water."

The Authority has completed the installation of concrete pads in the west training area to accommodate and tie down the landing gear of the 727 jet that was recently donated by FedEx.  (See article below dated 8/28/07).  The aircraft will be towed to its permanent location early this winter. 

GFK Flight Support continues to make progress on their new state-of-the art FBO.  Brent Seifert, Flight Support's president, says he hopes to have the building completed and ready to open in early summer 2008. 

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The Grand Forks Regional Airport Authority's construction of a new apron and taxiway is very near completion.  The apron is situated in front of GFK Flight Support's new facility. Ulteig is the civil engineering firm, and Opp Construction is the contractor.

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The Airport Authority is has begun construction on a storage facility that will house it's heavy equipment.  The equipment will be rotated seasonally.  Foltz Buildings of Detroit Lakes, MN is putting the building up on the west edge of airport property, near CR5. 

The Grand Forks Airport Authority welcomes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's North Dakota Air and Marine Branch to the Grand Forks Airport.  The Air and Marine Branch plays an important role in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's effort to stop the smuggling of humans and drugs across 800 miles of the Canadian-North Dakota border.   The CBP hosted an opening ceremony  on September 22.  

Grand Forks Mayor Mike Brown appointed Steve Kuhlman to fill the opening on the Authority's Board of Commissioners, recently vacated by Dave Molmen.  Steve is VP of Acme Electric, and is a pilot, graduate and past employee of UND's JDO School of Aerospace Sciences.  We extend our warmest welcome to Steve, the newest member of the Airport Authority Board.

GFK Flight Support held their official ground breaking ceremony today for their new $4.5 million FBO facility. Brent Seifert and his GFK Flight Support staff are very excited about this new addition to the community, as are the Airport Authority Board and staff.  This facility will feature a multitude of amenities including a five-star hotel-class lobby, comfortable waiting areas, exclusive pilot lounges, classrooms for flight training, pilot pro shop, conference room, theater, heated hangar space and indoor parking garages.    Click here for more.

The Grand Forks Air Traffic Control Tower staff recently received national recognition for their outstanding operational performance.  Dave Cink, the tower's manager, announced last month that the GFK ATCT was chosen as the 2006 National Facility of the Year - ATCT Level 7-9 by the Federal Aviation Administration.  Dave and his staff are extremely deserving of this award, and the Authority congratulates them for receiving this award and also applauds them for their exemplary service to our airport.   Read FAA press release here.

Minnkota Hangar is finally complete.  Minnkota's chief pilot Larry Gebhardt is very pleased with the new facility. 

Work by A & S LLC is finished with the reconstruction of the roadway between the Authority's administrative offices and the airfield maintenance building, and a portion of the T-hangar taxiway.   

FedEx Express generously donated one of their retired 727's to the Grand Forks Regional Airport Authority (GFRAA) today.  David Sutton, Fed Ex's Directing Manager of Aircraft Acquisition and Sales presented the aircraft to Executive Director GFRAA Steve Johnson, after a customary "water arch" retirement ceremony for B727-N496FE "Zachory".  The Airport Fire Department Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting Training Unit (ARFF) as well as Grand Forks' surrounding public safety agencies will use this aircraft to train for emergency evacuation training.  All are appreciative to FedEx for this gift.   

...WITH NO NEW OR INCREASED TAXES OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS OR GRAND FORKS COUNTY.

Airport Authority Chair Brad Beyer said, "By maximizing federal and state matching funds and by redesigning the terminal based upon a more efficient model to meet today's needs the Airport Authority was able to reduce the construction cost from $29 million to $20 million." 

Steve Johnson, Airport Director stated, "This new terminal, while meeting today's needs, has the capability to be expanded as the community's and region's air service needs grow and expand."

The new terminal will be built just north of the Federal Express Regional Distribution Center.