Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)

[Kurt]

Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
Approximately 91% of contract is complete with 80% of contract time used.

• Pond C grading is 99% complete.
• Installing Airfield Edge Lighting Conduit and Plazas
• Continuing installation of Airside underdrain pipe
• Terminal Apron concrete pad is complete
• Morrell and Kelly Branch restoration continues

Contract 2: Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings
Approximately 47% of contract is complete with 52% of contract time used.
Terminal:

• In the utility area completed form work and compaction and preparing for concrete pour.
• Continuing metal framing on 1st and 2nd levels.
• In the baggage handling area continuing exterior CMU walls. Work is 60% complete.

Air Traffic Control Tower:

• Preparing for concrete pour of stairs and deck Levels 2,3 and 4.
• Installing decking and metal stairs floors 5-9.

Terminal Support Facilities:

• Air Maintenance Facility - continuing electrical rough-in walls at maintenance office and bays.
• Air Cargo Facility - continuing with the installation of MR gypsum wall board.

Rental Car Facility:

• Beginning the erection of the pre-engineered metal building.

Public Safety Building:

• Continuing block installation at 2nd level administration area.

Manpower:

• An average of 155 personnel are on site Monday through Friday and approximately three workers are on site on Saturday.

Contract 3: Utility Contract
Approximately 57% of contract work is complete with 54% of contract time used.

• 3W2″ Power Distribution Duct Bank is 95% complete; installation of wiring by Gulf Power is ongoing.
• Street Light Duct Work is 98% complete; light poles being installed (approx. 6-8 per day).
• 6W4″ Power Distribution Duct Bank is 100% complete.
• Jack and boring on Main Access Road for fire hydrant installation.
• 24″ Water Main is 98% complete.
• 12″ water main is 99% complete.
• 30″ water main is 90% complete; installation continuing on the utility road.

Lift Station:

• Lift Station is 50% complete; plumbing is being installed.

Fuel Farm:

• Fuel Farm is 25% complete; electrical work is in progress.

Booster Station:

• Booster Station is 40% complete; concrete roofs are poured.

Triturator:

• Triturator is 10% complete; vault installation is underway.

Contract 4: Landscape/Hardscape Contract
Approximately 7% of the work is complete with 11% of the contract time used.

• Construction is underway on overflow weirs on Main Access Road
• Performing soil preparation on Main Access Road.
• Hydro seeding of Main Access Road is underway.
• Installing aquatic plants at main entrance.

 

[Kurt]

 

[Kurt]

http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/othercities/atlanta/stories/2009/08/17/story8.html?b=1250481600^1933811&s=industry&i=resi_real_estate

St. Joe Co. is planning several more waves of development in the Florida Panhandle — a potential building boom spurred by the region’s new international airport.

St. Joe, one of the Panhandle’s largest developers, has several projects in the works around Panama City-Bay County International Airport, which is being built on a 4,000-acre site in western Bay County.

St. Joe donated land to the Panama City/Bay County Airport and Industrial District.

Construction on the airport began in late 2007.

St. Joe has land entitlements near the airport for at least 4 million square feet of commercial and industrial development and at least 5,800 residential units.

The Panhandle is one of the most popular summer vacation destinations for Atlantans and the location many choose for second homes.

But, the expansion of the airport gives cities such as Atlanta — about a five-hour drive from the Panhandle — greater connectivity to the Bay County region, economic development officials say.

St. Joe is banking on that connection to spur residential and commercial real estate demand not just from Atlanta but from across the South.

“Within this area we have a lot of residential projects in development, and the dirt is turning on those lots,” said Jerry Ray, a spokesman with St. Joe (NYSE: JOE).

“Some of those sites are ready for development,” he said. “In some cases houses are already there and builder programs are in place.”

In recent months, St. Joe Co. met with officials from Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL).

The meetings focused on the potential for more routes between the expanded Panama City airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Ray said.

“Here is the advantage the airport gives us,” Ray said. “We were always a drive-in market. But, once we have the new airport, it’s going to give us a chance to broaden our market and move from a regional destination to reach a much broader part of the country.”

The Panhandle is Florida’s second-largest tourism market behind Orlando.

With the airport’s planned opening in May 2010, Bay County officials think it might be enough of an economic engine to pull the residential market out of its slide.

Florida has one of the hardest-hit housing markets of any state.

“It’s going to be a catalyst,” said Janet Watermeier, director of economic development for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.

“The airport is getting national media attention,” she said. “We’re getting calls from people with business interests in our region from as far away as California and Texas as well as the usual states, such as Mississippi and Georgia.”

The airport is one of the largest planned mixed-use developments in the United States.

St. Joe owns all of the land surrounding the airport, or about 71,000 acres. More than half of that is dedicated to preservation.

 

[Will B]

Southwest...

Still no updates other than SW cutting 92 flights from its schedule and adding flights between St. Louis - Boston and St. Louis - Minneapolis. They are taking reservations through early 2010 but PC is not there.

When is the new airport supposed to open? Given the fluidity of large scale construction projects I'm doubtful that they will sell any seats to Panama City, assuming they do, at some point, decide to fly there, until there is some sort of hard date.

Given the state of the airline industry carriers are going to cut deadwood and look for known revenue streams. I wouldn't look for a whole lot of expansion until the trend starts back up, but you never can tell with them. They do buck the trend more than most; however, they are expected to lose money this year for the first time in their history so they are entering uncharted territory. Should be interesting...

 

[Kurt]

Start date is around memorial day 2010.

 

[Will B]

thanks...

I do have access to some behind the scenes announcements being in the industry and all.
This is the first thing that I've seen come across from them in a while. I'll be sure to post any updates as I get 'em...

 

[Paula]

I'm REALLY hoping for some direct flights from Detroit, ideally Delta, and having them be less expensive than flights currently are. Right now, going from Chicago or Detroit (anywhere in the midwest) one has to fly through Memphis or Atlanta to get to Panama City or Fort Walton Beach. And the flights are relatively high (Average about $360) so someone has to REALLY want to get to SoWal (as I do) to want to fly there frequently. It can easily be a 6-8 hour flight with layovers right now. If there ever is a direct flight, perhaps more people from the midwest will go to SoWal (you can decide if that's a good thing, but I think it's a good thing).

 

[scooterbug44]

I'd be happy if they got a PNS or VPS to Chicago direct flight.

With apologies to the folks who live there, Memphis, Detroit, and Atlanta suck as places to fly through/get stuck.

 

[beachmouse]

I'm kind of surprised Pensacola doesn't have a Chicago non-stop. I know that VPS used to, but it got eliminated as part of a bigger route consolidation.

One bright spot- Tallahassee and Pensacola are supposed to get prized Washington National slots in the near future, and that might open up some interest in the area from the Mid Atlantic.

 

[Paula]

I want the direct flight to be from Detroit (the airport I use), but I'd be happy if there was one from Chicago, too. I like the new Detroit airport - new and easy to get around for me - but I fly Northwest/Delta and they have the nicest part of the airport.