New Jet Hangar Proposed For Beverly Regional Airport

BEVERLY, MA -- The largest tenant at Beverly Airport plans to build a new hangar to accommodate an increase in demand. Airport Manager Gloria Bouillon said North Atlantic Air has begun the permitting and design process for an executive-style hangar that would be about 17,000 square feet and be able to store three to five jet aircraft. A notice sent to abutters of the property in Danvers set off fears this week that the new hangar signaled a massive increase in the number and size of flights coming and going from the airport.

Bouillon said while the airport has seen a growth in operations in recent years, the hangar was to meet that demand. And she does not expect the new facility to increase noise levels at the airport.

"Yes, we're looking at an expansion tenant from a larger tenant to meet the demand and the growth at the airport for some larger aircraft coming in," she said. "There's demand to house these kinds of aircraft. They're multi-million dollar assets that should be stored in a hangar."

The growth in airport traffic has largely come by marketing the airport as an alternative to Boston's Logan International Airport for private business travelers. Bouillon said the airport will also reconstruct its runway next year to meet FAA safety and design standards, but that project will not increase the size of the existing runway.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).