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10 n e w h a v e n B I Z | A p r i l 2 0 2 3 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m O n T h e R e c o r d | Q & A Why did this job at Tweed entice you to delay your retirement? When I saw the position opening, it was the perfect description for a job for me because I had previously worked for Avports, which is operating this airport. I was very familiar with the whole arrangement and management agreement in the lease. I just thought it was very intriguing. What are your goals and priorities in your new role? e top one is to complete the capital projects, the runway extension and the new, relocated terminal, as well as continuing to expand the air service. What is the status of the planned $100 million expansion project and latest estimated timeline? Currently we are in a public comment period for the environmental assessment. e public comment process closes May 1. At that time, the FAA and consultant will work to address the comments that were made. en it gets put back to the FAA as a final environmental assessment, and they have to make the final decision. is is all following a federal process that all federal agencies have to go through. ere is no prescribed time for them to make a decision. We are hoping they'll have a decision for us by early summer. ere are two potential outcomes. It can go to what is called a "Finding of No Significant Impact," or "FONSI." Or, they may require an environmental impact statement. If it is favorable as a FONSI, we will then move into the permitting stage and begin the permitting and design process for those two (runway expansion and new terminal) projects. How long does that usually take? Taking Off New Tweed leader delays retirement to pilot airport through major revamp Thomas Rafter Executive Director Tweed New Haven Airport Education: Montclair State University Age: 64 Thomas Rafter started his new job as executive director at Tweed New Haven Airport in January. By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo L ongtime airport executive omas Raer had been pondering retirement, but he decided the opportunity to lead Tweed New Haven Airport through its upcoming $100 million reconfiguration and expansion was too good to ignore. Raer, 64, took over the position as the airport's executive director in January, replacing Sean Scanlon, who le aer being elected Connecticut's state comptroller. Raer has been working in aviation for more than four decades, with 31 years at Atlantic City International Airport and 10 years at Nantucket Memorial Airport. Raer arrives at a pivotal time for Tweed, which straddles the border between New Haven and East Haven. Tweed operator Avports is planning to extend its runway to accommodate larger planes and build a larger terminal at a new location. e plan is to extend the runway from its current 5,600 feet to 6,575 feet. Some larger airlines have shied away from providing service at Tweed due to their longer runway requirements, and airport leaders say the extension is key to future growth. Tweed plans to construct a new 80,000-square-foot terminal on the airport's east side, and it will use its current west side terminal for administrative purposes. e airport also wants to add some 4,000 new parking spaces. e proposal is for construction to be finished by 2026. A March 2023 dra environmental assessment report related to the expansion plan was made available for the public to review on March 2, with a 60-day public comment period. e Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will review the report, prepared by consultant McFarland Johnson, once the public comment period is over. In 2022, the airport authority approved a 43-year lease deal and management agreement with Virginia-based Avports. Tweed has estimated that its planned expansion will create up to 11,000 jobs in southern Connecticut, including 1,000 construction jobs. New routes have been added in recent months, now totaling 15 destinations in the eastern U.S. On March 24, 16 months aer first taking flight from Tweed, Avelo Airlines celebrated flying its one-millionth customer. New Haven Biz recently sat down with Raer to discuss his plans for Tweed and the airport's future. PHOTO | GARY LEWIS

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