The former Tampa International Jet Center at Tampa International Airport has a new owner and expansion plans are in the works.
- New owner Sheltair plans to spend more then $5 million on improvements
- Sheltair provides runways, maintenance services for private aircraft
The buyer, Sheltair, plans to spent more than $5 million to build a 32,000-square-foot hangar and executive offices on the property.
"We look at ourselves as the front door to the city for business," said Phil Botana, Sheltair general manager.
The new hangar will include high tail doors to accommodate larger aircraft.
"There are a lot of people who are constantly asking us, 'Do you have hangar space, do you have hangar space?' and right now, we're full," said Warren Kroeppel, Sheltair's chief operating officer. "We're looking at the demand and we're trying to satisfy the needs of the local community."
Mayor Bob Buckhorn said the Sheltair expansion is a nice complement to the major expansion already underway at TIA.
"People love coming to TIA. If you're lucky enough to have a private jet, that experience will be matched here at this operation, so it's good," said Buckhorn. "You know, money turns over in the local community, they're going to hire more people, they're going to retain the people that were here. It's a win-win for everybody, both for the airport and the employees."
Sheltair provides runways, aircraft fueling, maintenance, hangar and other services for private aircraft.
The company plans to start construction on the new hangar soon and hopes to have it finished by the second quarter of 2017.