Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1481988
44 maconmagazine.com | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 airport's prepared for that potential growth." The roughly $6 million runway project is being funded through federal, state, and local dollars. Plans also include building more hangars and expanding the General Aviation Terminal. The first floor is already completed, and there are plans to complete the second floor soon. The future of aviation in Central Georgia is looking up. Different people and agencies are working hard to make this possible and to give pilots and future mechanics a better environment to work in and grow right here in the heart of Georgia. "Flying is so peaceful. What you see from the ground, the view from the sky is incredible," Johnny said. "I can't wait to be able to do this for the rest of my life." RIVERSIDE DRIVE STORE 3720 Riverside Dr., Macon FORSYTH ROAD STORE 4433 Forsyth Rd., Macon HIGHWAY 96 STORE 5220 GA 96, Jeffersonville BOLINGBROKE STORE 5969 US 41, Bolingbroke OCMULGEE EAST STORE 4900 Ocmulgee East Blvd., Macon HIGHWAY 49 STORE 717 GA 49 N, Macon DRIVEN BY PRODUCTIVITY, FUELED BY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SINCE 1952 Serving Central Georgia with six locally-owned retail locations focused on the highest standards of cleanliness, service, and efficiency proposed facilities — essentially, the future of the airport. The future Middle Georgia Regional Airport will include the new air traffic control tower, a new commercial air service terminal, and infrastructure for recharging all-electric aircraft. Many elements of the plan should be implemented within a year. "We're constantly looking at ways to make our airport better for everyone. Upgrading our services, improving our infrastructure will prepare us for significant growth and development in the future," Faour said. In July 2022, the Macon-Bibb County Commission approved receiving $2 million from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Highway Division to fund a portion of the construction of the Middle Georgia Regional Airport's runway extension project. This project has been years in the making and the approval of the funds will get this project rolling. The process started in 2013 and took several years to complete the steps to justify the extension with both GDOT and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Extension of Runway 5/23 Project is currently in design, and the airport expects to have those plans completed by the end of the year so that the FAA can review and fund grant programming in 2023. "The runway extension is important for a variety of reasons, such as improving safety, allowing for larger aircraft to land and take off at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport with full payloads," Faour said. "It also makes the airport more attractive for commercial airline service to other destinations and increases air-service charter opportunities to other destinations." The Macon Downtown airport is also going through some improvements. Construction is expected to begin within a year to reconstruct that runway. "Reconstructing the runway will address compliance standards, thus improving safety for all of the airfield users and stakeholders," Faour said. "There's a lot of potential at the Downtown Macon airport, whether it be public or private investment. We'll be taking steps to ensure the ABOVE: Patrick Johnny is a senior in MGA's School of Aviation.