South Central Regional Airport Agency in central Iowa has selected HDR to plan and design a 581-acre regional airport. The site for the new airport is located between the Iowa cities of Oskaloosa and Pella. The Federal Aviation Administration completed its review of the project’s $30 million first phase in November 2017. When complete, South Central Regional Airport is projected to be the 10th busiest airport in the state.HDR is providing a complete suite of services, from real-estate acquisition to master planning to geographic information system and geotechnical engineering, environmental documentation, finance and economics support, public outreach and Federal Aviation Administration liaison services, as well as all civil design for terminals, hangars, aprons, utilities and runways.
South Central Regional Airport will replace two municipal airports and help the region meet aeronautical demand driven largely by the region’s biggest employers. Instrument approach procedures will be developed with the desired approach minimum as low as ½ mile forward visibility and a 200-foot decision height.
The project’s first phase starts with land acquisition, which is expected to take about two years. Design and construction of the new facility will take about three years. Ultimately, the airport will host a 6,700-foot primary runway, capable of providing a precision instrument approach for categories B and C aircraft.
Its airside features will include a full, parallel taxiway system, crosswind runway and aircraft-parking apron. Landside structures will include a terminal building, infrastructure for aviation services such as fueling and maintenance, and hangars for aircraft storage.
“The new airport is needed for local and itinerant corporate aircraft,” said Jerald Searle, HDR project manager. “The existing airport environs are such that neither airport can be expanded to accommodate aeronautical demand safely and efficiently.”
“South Central Regional Airport Agency was looking for a partner who offered all aviation services at a superior value,” added HDR aviation director Bill Peduzzi. “We’re excited to help bring a modern aviation hub online to serve the communities and economies of central Iowa.”