July 18, 2017
As a rural airport serving Southwest Wyoming, the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport (RKS) derives 87 percent of its operating revenues from general aviation (GA), with a balanced mix of business and recreational operations, flight training, medical flights and aerial firefighting.
This strong GA presence was a major factor in the airport’s recent announcement of a $4.8 million construction contract for a new general aviation terminal and hangar facility.
“In a 2013 economic impact study performed by the state of Wyoming, the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport was responsible for nearly $30 million in economic impact,” said airport Manager Devon Brubaker. “We believe that this year’s updated study will show that number has grown exponentially. We are confident that this project will lay the foundation for years of economic prosperity.”
The new terminal and hangar will further increase the airport’s strategic initiative to boost economic development in the region, said Brubaker.
Planned amenities of the 5,000-sqaure-foot terminal include a pilot lounge and quiet rooms, passenger lounge, conference rooms, office space and even a workout room with golf simulator. The new hangar facility will be large enough to support business aircraft such as a Gulfstream G550/650 or Global Express, and will also include four individual heated vehicle garages.
The old terminal that is being replaced was built in 1942, and the previous hangar was built in 1929, so both were “severely overdue” for replacement according to Brubaker.
“We did not have a safe place to store aircraft, a quiet place for pilots to rest, or even comfortable furniture. Serving as a gateway to Southwestern Wyoming, the airport was doing an injustice to all that we have to offer,” he said. “The new facility will change that perspective as we strive to provide a much higher level of service. Operations at the airport have been hindered by not having a suitable hangar for over seven decades, and we’ve had to turn away dozens of customers each month. That will no longer be an issue going forward.”