By Erin Smith, BladenOnline.com

Work is almost complete on the new terminal building located at the Elizabethtown Airport. Big plans for the future of the airport and terminal building are in the works.

Elizabethtown Town Manager Eddie Madden said the contractor is performing touch-up work and completing a “punch list.”

Madden said while work on the project was slowed by Hurricane Florence, it did not receive any damage during the storm. Madden said the town is anticipating the project will be completed and ready for a grand opening by February 2019.

He shared some exciting news about the future use of the terminal building.

“Our plan is to establish a civil air patrol squadron here. It will be a composite squadron that would give youth in the community the opportunity to learn more about aviation,” said Madden.

He stated the civil air patrol unit, if established, will need space for orientation, mapping and other flight training related activities.

“So far, the Fayetteville and Wilmington Squadrons have said they will help us get one established here. It would open the door for not only more use of the airport for the community but also open the doors for some of our youth to maybe take on a career in aviation,” said Madden.

The newly constructed terminal building offers a civil air patrol squadron plenty of space in which to learn and train. The new building measures 4,495 square feet and was built on the site of the old terminal. The new building features a lobby, office space, a conference room, a pilot’s lounge, classroom space, restroom facilities, kitchen space, shower facilities, and storage space.

The terminal project was funded with a $1.2 million grant from the North Carolina Division of Aviation.

The old terminal building was sold and moved off the property. The former terminal building was constructed in 1988 and dedicated to the memory of former Elizabethtown Mayor William “Bill” Keith in 1990.