Chicago Rockford International Airport developments take flight in 2014

The Greater Rockford Airport Authority is strongly committed to being a driver of economic opportunity for the region and would like to thank the community for its strong support. Our efforts remain focused on sustainable economic growth that will benefit the region and this year has proven to be one of substantial development.

Collaboration and partnership have been the cornerstones of those efforts.

The Rock Valley College Aviation Maintenance Technology program facility, a 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art building, will house the RVC educational course of study for aeronautical maintenance and repair. The new facility will offer an expanded and enhanced program for students, more than quadrupling the current facility size and allowing capacity to triple the number of annual graduates.

International maintenance, repair and overhaul provider, AAR Corp., broke ground on two 90,000-square-foot hangars and 20,000 square feet of office and warehouse space that will allow RFD to expand its service capabilities to provide service and maintenance to the next generation of wide-body aircraft. Graduates of the AMT program will be well-positioned to join the specialized workforce the MRO facility requires.

AirFest 2014: Let the Thunder Roll welcomed two jet performance teams, the USAF Thunderbirds and the Canadian Snowbirds. A record 135,000 people attended this year’s event and generated an estimated $3.5 million economic impact to the region. We look forward to welcoming the Blue Angels in 2015 and bringing an even bigger and better AirFest to the region.

Passenger traffic remains high, due in part to RFD’s strong partnership with Apple Vacations. We are proud to have served more than two million passengers and continue to strategically seek out desirable leisure destinations and engage the high quality of customer service to which our passengers have grown accustomed.

RFD employs a strategic and varied approach to remain at the forefront of activity to stimulate the region’s economy. Most recently, a Rockford delegation comprised of state and local government, regional aerospace companies and airport representatives traveled to Washington, D.C., to present Norwegian Air CEO, Bjorn Kjos, with the first ever “Rockford Award.

”This recognition promotes the value the region places on airlines that have the potential to bring European travel to the region and that help sustain the region’s prominence as an aerospace industry hub.

Diversions proved fruitful with more than 160 planes generating $60,000 in fees since 2012. RFD is the No. 1 diversion airport for all major airlines flying out of O’Hare and boasts runways that can accommodate the largest aircraft flown today.

RFD is currently nearing the completion phase of runway improvements to better serve its carriers and improvements to Falcon and Airport roads that will allow for more efficient operations and accessibility to airport visitors.

All said, the strong cooperation and financial support from the federal, state, county and city government, and the airport for current and projected 2015 construction projects total $1 billion dollars.

Community remains a top priority for the airport, and we were honored to support and collaborate with many local organizations that contribute to the heartbeat of our region. The RFD Volunteer Ambassador program has contributed more than 5,000 hours in assisting travelers with luggage, ground transportation, navigation, customer service and airport special events support.

As we hear about transformation throughout the community, indeed, the physical landscape of RFD plays a part. The developments and growth that have been achieved, quite simply, would not be possible without the strategic vision of the Airport Board of Commissioners and leadership from RFD Executive Director Mike Dunn and airport staff, the collaboration from the federal, state, county and city government, partners AAR and RVC, and you, the citizens who make up this great region.

On behalf of the GRAA, we thank you for your continued support and look forward to keeping you updated on the airport’s evolution and strategy to generate job creation and economic vitality for the region.

Paul Cicero is chairman of the Greater Rockford Airport Authority