A new era in Twin Cities aviation is underway, with the
groundbreaking today for a new Fixed Base Operation (FBO) at the
Anoka County-Blaine Airport.
The new FBO will cater to the business jet sector of general
aviation and be owned and operated by Key Air, the industry leader
in aircraft management and worldwide executive charter. The first
phase is scheduled to be open by September 1, 2008, and will include
at least 14,000 square feet of terminal space and 65,000 square feet
of hangar space. Upon full build out, the northwest building area
of the airport will have more than 250,000 square feet of hangar
space.
“With the addition of the Key Air FBO, the Anoka County-Blaine
Airport is poised to be the premier reliever airport in the Twin
Cities. It’s where business leaders and aviation experts will
want to be,” said Anoka County Commissioner and Airport Committee
Chair Scott LeDoux.
Metropolitan Airports Commission Chairman Jack Lanners said,
“This groundbreaking is an important event not only for Key Air but
also for Anoka County-Blaine Airport, its tenants, and the region.”
“Key Air’s new executive terminal, business center and hangar
facility will stand as the cornerstone of the airport’s continued
development. Construction of Key Air’s new facility marks a
new phase in the ongoing partnership between the Metropolitan
Airports Commission, Anoka County, the City of Blaine and private
industry. The end result will be enhanced aviation services at
Anoka County-Blaine Airport and increased economic activity in the
region,” said Lanners.
The addition of the Key Air FBO is just the latest in a series of
investments made by Anoka County to continually improve the airport.
“Today’s groundbreaking demonstrates our commitment to excellence,
and our desire to be top-flight when it comes to aviation services
in the Twin Cities,” said Commissioner LeDoux.
Recent improvements include:
- Extending the east-west runway to 5,000 feet from the
previous 4,000 feet, making it usable by more planes in more
weather conditions.
- Lengthening the parallel taxiway serving the east-west
runway.
- Installing an instrument landing and approach lighting
system to enhance safety and reduce noise, particularly in
low-visibility.
- Constructing road access, sanitary sewer and water systems,
and mitigating wetlands impacted by the development.
The Anoka County-Blaine Airport is easily accessible from Highway
10 and Interstate 35W in Blaine. This new FBO is just the
latest in a series of improvements to the Anoka County-Blaine
Airport, which currently delivers more than $30 million in economic
impact. “This new FBO will make the metro’s largest reliever
airport the standard in aviation service excellence,” said
Commissioner Robyn West, whose district includes the city of Blaine.
The Key Air FBO is being built by Minneapolis-based
Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. (KA), one of the country’s top
commercial general contractors and construction managers. With
a volume last year of $823 million, the company serves as general
contractor and construction manager on more than 400 projects a year
in numerous industry sectors, including aviation.
KA has been providing construction management services for the
Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) since 1991 at Minneapolis/St.
Paul International Airport, working on more than 420 projects valued
at $1.2 billion. Major recent projects include Hubert H. Humphrey
Terminal and accompanying light rail station and 8,600-car ramp.
Other KA aviation experience includes work for Cirrus Aviation in
Duluth; Northwest Airlines aircraft maintenance hangar in Duluth;
Signature Airlines facility at Minneapolis/St. Paul International
Airport; and Aviation Charter at Flying Cloud Airport.
