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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 25 O C T O B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 T R A N S P O R TAT I O N / I N F R A S T R U C T U R E F O C U S Scott Wardwell, the airport's director, notes that Northern Maine Regional was one of only a handful of airports in New England that saw an increase in passenger boardings in 2015 — with the FAA reporting a 4.85% increase to 12,928 enplanements. e airport boasts the second longest runway in Maine, measuring 7,440 feet, which is complemented by a sec- ond runway of 6,000 feet. Wardwell says the airport got a boost in early February from the 2016 International Biathlon Union World Cup, which resulted in more than 300 of the world's top biathletes from 32 coun- tries fl ying into e County to compete in the combined cross-country skiing and rifl e-shooting event hosted by the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle. " e bulk of the athletes and coaches came through Presque Isle," Wardwell says. "Because we've main- tained our facility here at a good size, athletes were able to fl y directly here from Calgary, Canada." A $4.6 million FAA grant for the taxiway project, he says, enhances the airport's ability to attract larger jets such as those that arrived for the biathlon. Like Perry in Augusta, Wardwell says training new pilots is as critical to the industry's overall health as paving runways and taxiways. "If you have no pilots you have no fl ights," he says. "We're actively trying to increase our air passenger service. So we're very aware that's not going to be possible if we don't have the pilots to fl y here." Sanford's 'reliever' airport Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport, a city-owned airport with slightly more than 100 aircraft based there, is one of two airports in Maine (the other being Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport) designated by the FAA as a "reliever" airport. As such, says airport manager Allison Rogers, Sanford provides an alterna- tive landing site for corporate and other small aircraft traffi c that might fi nd it easier to land there than at the region's hub airport, the Portland International Jetport. e Bush family uses the Sanford airport for easy access to the summer compound in Kennebunkport, she says, as do Walmart and Lowe's when offi cials fl y in from their corporate headquarters to visit Maine stores. Reliever airports account for approx- imately 10% of airports nationwide receiving funding through the FAA's Airport Improvement Program. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Supporting Maine's Transportation & Infrastructure Projects Contact Nick Sabatine Contact Nick Sabatine at the idea-stage: at the idea-stage: nsabatine@ransomenv.com 207-772-2891 D E V E L O P M E N T D E V E L O P M E N T \ \ D U E D I L I G E N C E D U E D I L I G E N C E \ \ E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A LT H & S A F E T Y E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A LT H & S A F E T Y E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A LT H & S A F E T Y \ \ M U N I C I P A L \ \ U T I L I T Y, E N E R G Y & M A N U F A C T U R I N G Site Planning Site Planning Wastewater Engineering Wastewater Engineering Storm Water Engineering Storm Water Engineering Permitting Permitting Water Supply Engineering Water Supply Engineering GIS Applications GIS Applications Turnkey Brownfield Services Turnkey Brownfield Services Turnkey Brownfield Services Remediation Remediation Funding Assistance Funding Assistance Consulting Engineers and Scientists www.RansomEnv.com FR E E PO RT Building Maine's Future In project development, you have a lot to keep your eye on. Sometimes it's hard to see the opportunities and the risks clearly. That's where Drummond Woodsum attorneys Ron Ward, John Kaminski, Rick Shinay, Gary Vogel, Ted Kelleher and Lisa Magnacca can help. We use a team approach to bring the most complex development projects to closing in Maine. We provide cost-effective and experienced representation to owners, contractors, investors and and historic tax credit projects. We practice law differently. Since 1965. dwmlaw.com | 800 800 800 800.727.1941 727.1941 727.1941 727.1941 727.1941 727.1941 727.1941 727.1941 727.1941

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