FITCHBURG — The Municipal Airport, sporting its newly extended 5001-foot runway, has begun welcoming corporate jet travel to the city for the first time, including two arrivals this past week.
“The completion of the new runway will open up many new business opportunities as has been seen within the first week of opening,” Interim Airport Manager Peter Kettle said.
On Tuesday, a jet hailing from Pennsylvania landed on the runway early in the morning, purchasing 270 gallons of fuel.
Then, on Wednesday, a second jet arrived at the airport to conduct business in the local area.
The owner of the second jet said they had a great meeting and will be back in the not too distant future, Kettle said.
“This just demonstrates the importance of this airport, not just for the city of Fitchburg but it’s a regional asset,” Mayor Stephen DiNatale said. “Things are only going to get better as the word gets out that this airport is open for business.”
DiNatale said while there is more work to do, which could include bringing a restaurant back to the facility, this has been a step in the right direction.
The runway project, supported by a $13.8 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, which will remove the east-west runway and extend the north-south runway to 5,001 feet, which is a single foot over the length required by several insurance companies that cover corporate jet travel.
The local share of the project is $768,450, which was appropriated in the form of a loan during a City Council meeting in July.
Kettle said the airport is awaiting final checks from the Federal Aviation Administration before it can enable precision instrument approaches to take place at night. He said those checks will be completed soon.
The project will also create extra space for the development of hangars and other buildings after the second runway is removed, Kettle has said.
The airport is also working on installing a new self-serve fueling station. On Feb. 4, the City Council approved a $656,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation to help pay for the project.