OWB to build new hangar complex with state funding

The Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport is moving forward with plans to build a new 10-unit T-hangar complex, marking the first hangar construction at the airport in nearly 40 years.



During a recent special called meeting, the airport board approved the project and finalized a lease amendment needed to secure the construction site.

Airport Director Tristan Durbin said the new hangars will help address significant demand.

“We have about 25 on a waitlist right now,” Durbin said. “These T-hangars will probably be the first hangar infrastructure built on the airport in close to 40 years.”

The $2.5 million project will be funded through the Kentucky legislature’s House Bill 1.

Once complete, it will also allow the airport to take possession of an older 10-unit hangar currently leased by MidAmerica Jet. That building will require repairs before returning to use.

“Effectively, we’ll go from the airport currently having zero T-hangars in our possession to after the completion of this project having a total of 20,” Durbin said.

Most of the hangars will serve private aircraft owners, though they will be designed to hold a range of single-engine and some multi-engine planes. Durbin said the added capacity is expected to boost both operations and revenue.

“This is just another piece of our efforts to increase aviation traffic back to the airport,” Durbin said. “A couple years ago we bought a fuel tank and started selling avgas, and that has gone really well. This is another step that will increase our operations and revenue.”

The project is expected to be finished by fall 2026 following the design, bidding, and construction process.

The hangar construction comes alongside other upgrades at the airport. The board also approved a Federal Aviation Administration grant to replace 80 to 85 percent of the airfield lighting with LED systems. Recently completed work includes a rehabilitation of Taxiway Charlie, which runs parallel to the primary runway.

Separately, the airport has also begun the environmental review process for a new terminal project.