Blountville, TN – The Tri-Cities Airport Authority (TCAA) elected to promote David Jones to Deputy Executive Director at today’s board meeting. The promotion takes effect immediately.
“We are pleased to announce that David Jones was promoted to Deputy Executive Director at today’s meeting,” said TCAA Chairman Jon Smith. “He has the experience and expertise to maintain the high standards already in place. David has seen the airport through a number of successful projects and we are glad to recognize his contributions.”
Jones previously held the position of TCAA Director of Operations and had been in that role for more than 12 years. He came to Tri-Cities after serving 11 years as Engineering and Environmental Manager for McGhee-Tyson Airport. Jones also worked in Knoxville with Vaughn and Melton Engineers and Architects.
“The Airport is moving in a very positive direction,” said Jones. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the Authority board and staff on the progress that has been made.”
Jones was also appointed to serve as Interim Executive Director beginning November 18 until the hiring process is complete for the open TCAA Executive Director position.
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Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport serving Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. TRI offers non-stop flights to four hubs (Atlanta, Charlotte, Orland/Sanford, and St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa) on Allegiant, American, and Delta. For more information about Tri-Cities Airport, visit triflight.com.
Aerospace Park is a direct-airfield development at Tri-Cities Airport in Northeast Tennessee. The site offers 32 acres ready for immediate development and an additional 73 acres currently in development.
Blountville, TN – Community leaders and construction vehicles were on site today at Tri-Cities Airport setting the stage for the next phase of Aerospace Park site development.
Site construction in Aerospace Park will begin tomorrow and is scheduled to be completed in late fall 2020. Once this phase of construction is complete, Aerospace Park will have a total of 105 acres ready for immediate development.
Aerospace Park already offers 32 acres ready for development. TCAA staff continue to heavily promote the current availability of the site to target industries. The completion of each phase of Aerospace Park development has offered additional promotional benefits and recognition for the site.
“Aerospace Park would not be in this stage of development if it were not for the support of our funding partners,” said TCAA Chairman Dr. Jon Smith. “It has been an honor to be a part of the cities and counties coming together on this significant, regional economic development project.”
Representatives of the TCAA; the Cities of Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City, Tennessee; and Sullivan County and Washington County, Tennessee; as well as State of Tennessee officials celebrate the next phase of development for Aerospace Park.
TCAA Executive Director Patrick Wilson added his appreciation to the Aerospace Park funding partners. “The support from our community partners has been very important as we sought additional funding to complete the site,” said Wilson. “The Airport Authority has received grant funding from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, and TVA. We appreciate each of these funding partners as we continue to move Aerospace Park forward.”
The TCAA will be competing for approximately $1.7 million in grant funding for the final phase. The final phase of site construction will include grading completion of 17 acres and the addition of utilities and access roads. Once the total site is complete, TCAA will seek certification of the 122-acre site through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s Select Tennessee Site program.
Site completion and certification will bolster Aerospace Park marketing efforts, according to Mark Canty, TCAA Director of Trade and Business Development. “Expanding the footprint of the current certified acreage of Aerospace Park will allow us to more effectively promote the site, compete for large projects, and increase our ability to bring quality jobs to Northeast Tennessee,” said Canty.
The TCAA’s target industries for Aerospace Park include maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations, completion and delivery centers, passenger to freighter conversion centers, and manufacturers.
According to Canty, aircraft manufacturing and MRO operations are projected to experience significant growth over the coming decade, and recent trends have seen a high percentage of domestic growth occurring in the southeastern United States.
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Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport serving Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. TRI offers non-stop flights to four hubs (Atlanta, Charlotte, Orland/Sanford, and St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa) on Allegiant, American, and Delta. For more information about Tri-Cities Airport, visit triflight.com.
Aerospace Park is a direct-airfield development at Tri-Cities Airport in Northeast Tennessee. The site offers 32 acres ready for immediate development and an additional 73 acres currently in development.
Blountville, TN. – An aircraft accident involving a small, single engine experimental category aircraft known as a Velocity occurred at Tri-Cities Airport yesterday evening.
Below are the final details Tri-Cities Airport will release. Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be the investigating agency.
DATE: Wednesday, September 19, 2018
TIME OF ACCIDENT: Approximately 8:05 PM
AIRCRAFT TYPE: Velocity Experimental
ACCIDENT DESCRIPTION: The aircraft accident occurred in the approach area of Runway 23. TRI emergency responders arrived at the scene and found two people on board conscious and moving. Foam was sprayed on the plane and surrounding area for preventive measures to avoid fire. Both passengers exited the aircraft with assistance and were transported by ambulance to Holston Valley Hospital for evaluation of possible injuries.
IMPACT ON TRI OPERATIONS: Runway 23 was closed for approximately two hours, reopening at 10:00 PM. Commercial flights were minimally impacted by the accident with the final two flights of the evening arriving as scheduled. Some damage occurred to the FAA instrument landing system (ILS) lights on Runway 23. The FAA is currently assessing the damage, determining needed repairs and repair schedule.
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Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport serving Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. TRI offers non-stop flights to four hubs (Atlanta, Charlotte, Orland/Sanford, and St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa) on Allegiant, American, and Delta. For more information about Tri-Cities Airport, visit triflight.com.
Blountville, TN. – As recently announced by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA), Executive Director PatrickWilson will be leaving the Tri-Cities Airport Authority (TCAA) in late October/early November to serve as president of the MKAA.
Wilson has held the Executive Director position at TCAA for 13 years and was previously Deputy Executive Director for eight years. Prior to his work at TCAA, Wilson served as the operations manager for MKAA.
“Serving this region through the Tri-Cities Airport Authority has been personally and professionally rewarding,” said Patrick Wilson, TCAA executive director. “It has been a privilege to work with the airport staff, airport commissioners, and regional leaders to maximize the airport’s role as an asset for Northeast Tennessee.”
During Wilson’s tenure at TCAA, he led the recruitment effort for Allegiant Air, the transition from the Airport Commission to an Airport Authority, extensive terminal improvements and upgrades, and the major regional economic development partnership of Aerospace Park.
“Patrick has served us extremely well and I wish him all the best in his new endeavor,” said Jon Smith, TCAA Chairman. “We are fortunate our airport’s staff and management team are truly exceptional and that they will ensure the airport will continue to operate at the high standards to which our traveling public have become accustomed as we go through this change in leadership. While I regret the fact that Patrick will no longer be leading the team at the Tri-Cities Airport Authority, I know that this represents a well-deserved opportunity.”
Staff are coordinating with the TCAA board and working through the transition process.
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Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport serving Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. TRI offers non-stop flights to four hubs (Atlanta, Charlotte, Orland/Sanford, and St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa) on Allegiant, American, and Delta. For more information about Tri-Cities Airport, visit triflight.com.
Blountville, TN – Living history will be on display at Tri-Cities Airport September 4-9 during the 2018 Aviation Celebration. The event will be held at Tri-City Aviation, the general aviation terminal at Tri-Cities Airport. Event goers can view aircraft, browse through aviation displays, and learn more about aviation in the Tri-Cities area. Parking and admission to the displays are free and open to the public.
The B-25 bomber, “Maid in the Shade”, part of the Flying Legends of Victory Tour presented by the Arizona Commemorative air Force Museum, will be on display from Tuesday, Sept. 4 through Sunday, Sept. 9. Ground tours of the inside of the B-25 may be purchased at the door for $10 per person or $20 for a family of four. Aviation enthusiasts can even fly in the B-25 Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The fee for rides is $325 or $625 per person. Reservations are required. Individuals may register at http://bit.ly/BristolB252018.
An A-10 Warthog, Chinook helicopter, and other aircraft of interest will be on display Sept. 7-9. Helicopter rides and rides for youth on a C-17s will be available over the weekend for a fee. Local food trucks will also be on site Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Educational booths include The Appalachian Aviatrixes of the Ninety-Nines, Civil Air Patrol, A Walk in their Boots, Northeast Tennessee Honor Flights, ETSU ROTC, Ballad Health Aviation Department and the VA Women’s Veterans Program. Most of the booths will be on site Sept. 7-9.
Money raised from this event will go to support scholarships from the Appalachian Aviatrixes, the local chapter of the International Organization of Women pilots, the Ninety-Nines (501 c3). Scholarships are awarded to local women allowing them to pursue pilot certificates and ratings.
To further introduce women to aviation, two introductory flight lessons for 16 and older are being raffled. Each lesson includes a one-hour of flight and one-hour of ground training with a flight instructor. Tickets are $1 and may be purchased at the event. Parental permission is required for anyone under 18.
Event coordinator, Meagan Harr, is a recent aviation scholarship winner. “This scholarship has made a significant impact on my aviation goals,” said Harr. “Through the Ninety-Nines scholarship, I have become a certified pilot and am now working on my advanced ratings. I want to pay it forward to the aviation community by helping other women benefit from scholarships.”
In addition to local scholarships, the Ninety-Nines offer many International scholarships, such as the “Fly Now Award”. Each year, approximately 50 women are awarded scholarships for up to $6,000 toward their private pilot certificate.
Blountville, TN. – Rehabilitation work on the Tri-Cities Airport long term parking lot will begin June 18. Project preparation is already underway as the lower entrance and a portion of the lot are closed. Airport officials expect the project to be complete by fall.
The rehabilitation project will take place in approximately four phases allowing for most of the parking lot to remain open as work occurs in closed areas. Barricades will be used capture sections of the parking lot as work progresses.
Directional signage will be placed accordingly to help drivers navigate the changes in the long term parking lot during the course of this project. Passengers are encouraged to allow additional time to navigate the parking lot as rehabilitation work progresses through the summer months. Passengers and customers are encourage to use the Long Term Express (credit card only) parking lot as it will remain completely open during the project.
“The barricades will give people ample time to move their cars and prevent others from parking within the work areas,” said Patrick Wilson, TCAA executive director. “We realize this project may inconvenience some of our customers and ask for patience as we work to complete the project and extend the life of the long term parking lot.”
Tri-Cities Airport Authority staff recommends passengers follow TRI’s social media outlets for long term parking lot rehabilitation updates.
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Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport serving Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. TRI offers non-stop flights to four hubs (Atlanta, Charlotte, Orland/Sanford, and St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa) on Allegiant, American, and Delta. For more information about Tri-Cities Airport, visit triflight.com.
Blountville, TN – The Tri-Cities Airport Authority (TCAA) was pleased to be among the 25 communicities receiving Site Development Grants as announced today by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner (TNECD) Bob Rolfe.
TCAA will receive a $500,000 grant to prepare a pad-ready site in Aerospace Park.
The regional collaboration of the three cities and two counties in Northeast Tennessee in developing a funding partnership for Aerospace Park was instrumental in positioning the project for the Site Development Grant. The regional partners include Bristol, TN, Kingsport, Johnson City, and Sullivan and Washington Counties. TCAA and NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership jointly presented the mertis of the project to the TNECD advisory committee.
“The Airport Authority is excited the project and the local city and county collaboration resulted in this grant,” said Patrick Wilson, TCAA executive director. “We appreciate the support of our Northeast Tennessee delegation of State senators and represenatives during this grant process. We are also thankful to TNECD for the development of this grant program and their participation on this project.”
The Site Development Grant is another step forward in the economic and job creation efforts of the TCAA in Aerospace Park.
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Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport serving Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. TRI offers non-stop flights to four hubs (Atlanta, Charlotte, Orland/Sanford, and St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa) on Allegiant, American, and Delta. For more information about Tri-Cities Airport, visit triflight.com.
Aerospace Park is a direct-airfield development at Tri-Cities Airport in Northeast Tennessee. The site offers 21 acres certified for immediate development and an additional 140 acres are currently under development.
NOTE: The following is a News Release from TNECD.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Carly Schroer, TNECD Wednesday, March 21, 2018 PHONE: (615) 490-2995 EMAIL: carly.schroer@tn.gov
GOVERNOR HASLAM, COMMISSIONER ROLFE ANNOUNCE 25 COMMUNITIES TO RECEIVE SITE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS More than $9.6 million in grants for industrial site preparation
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced today that 25 communities will receive more than $9.6 million in Site Development Grants.
The Site Development Grant program is part of the larger Rural Economic Opportunity Act passed in 2016 and updated in 2017.
“By making our rural communities ready for investment and economic success, we help them attract jobs and more opportunities for citizens,” Haslam said. “I congratulate the Site Development Grant program recipients and look forward to watching as they thrive and bring new businesses to our state.”
The grants are intended to help rural communities overcome barriers to site certification and prepare them to receive an economic development project that creates jobs in their community. These funds assist communities in finalizing infrastructure and engineering improvements for project-ready certified sites.
“We want to help these rural communities up their game and increase their close rate by making our rural county site inventory among the most attractive and project-ready in the world,” Rolfe said. “We are proud to see these 25 communities taking the initiative to invest in themselves and look forward to seeing their future success.”
“Each of the recipients is taking a major step to enhance their community and with the assistance of the site development grants, they are given the opportunity to compete for jobs and business,” TNECD Assistant Commissioner for Community and Rural Development Amy New said. “The Site Development program shows great return on investment, and I am thankful that the investment from the Rural Economic Opportunity Act will continue to help many more communities in the years to come.”
The Site Development Grant program works in cooperation with the department’s Select Tennessee Site Certification program.
“Through its Site Development Grant program, TNECD has awarded $21.6 million over three
years to communities throughout Tennessee,” TNECD Site Development Director Leanne Cox said. “These grants are a valuable resource for local economic development projects, demonstrating Tennessee’s proactive approach to industrial development and support for further growth and job creation.”
Applications were reviewed by an advisory committee made up of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Austin Consulting, Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Department of Transportation and the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
The grants awarded include:
Adamsville-McNairy County Industrial Development Board:
Adamsville Industrial Park – $368,600– Clear wooded area and extend Copeland Drive into the Industrial Site
City of Bolivar:
Bolivar Industrial Park – $299,056– Construct detention pond and landscaped berm
City of Brownsville:
1-40 Advantage Industrial Park – $465,511– Extend electric power utilities
City of Chattanooga:
Tubman Site – $100,000– Conduct due diligence studies
City of Covington:
Rialto Industrial Park – $261,250– Extend water line
City of Henderson:
Henderson Industrial Park – $68,850– Conduct due diligence studies
City of Humboldt:
Gibson County Industrial Park South Site – $500,000– Extend sewer service by constructing a new force main, sewage pumping station, and gravity sewer line
City of Lexington:
Reeves Industrial Property – $58,500– Conduct due diligence studies
City of Pulaski:
Pulaski Industrial Park South, Lot 5 – $500,000– Extend roadway, water line and sewer line
City of Ripley:
Walker East Industrial Park – $317,281– Fill wet weather conveyance channel, construct a detention basin, and install site signage
City of Tiptonville:
Port of Cates Landing Regional lntermodal Industrial Park– $308,748 – Construct fire protection and water supply capacity improvements, including municipal well and Cedar Street Pump Station improvements
City of Union City:
Northwest Tennessee Regional Industrial Park – $500,000– Extend Greenfield Drive and construct bridge
Dickson County:
Dickson County South Site – $41,770– Conduct due diligence studies and prepare master plan
Franklin County Industrial Development Board:
Franklin County Industrial Park #9 – $350,000– Grade and excavate a pad on which to place a 100,000 square foot building
Grundy County:
Pelham Industrial Park – $35,977– Conduct due diligence studies, including resistivity
Huntingdon Industrial Development Board:
Huntingdon Industrial Park South – $257,462– Clear trees, establish a permanent entrance way and marketing road, and install site signage
McMinn County Economic Development Authority:
North Etowah Industrial Park – $879,675– Complete engineering design of a new industrial access road
Monroe County:
Niles Ferry Industrial Park – $500,000– Complete site grading
Smith County:
Baker Property – $1,000,000– Complete site grading
Sullivan County Economic Development Partnership, Inc.:
Partnership Park II – $1,000,000– Complete site grading improvements to create rail access and a pad site
The Industrial Development Board of Crockett County:
Bivens Industrial Site – $38,290– Conduct due diligence studies
The Industrial Development Board of Perry County:
1-40 Industrial Park – $760,000– Extend forced main sewer line
Town of Erwin:
2nd Street Industrial Site – $500,000– Grade a pad-ready site for a single, large industrial user and conduct investigative studies
Tri-Cities Airport Authority:
Aerospace Park – $500,000– Prepare a pad-ready site for an aircraft maintenance hangar, as well as landside parking access
Van Buren County:
BDS Industrial Site – $17,670 – Conduct due diligence studies
Each application was supported by the community’s senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Team Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
Blountville, TN. – The Tri-Cities Airport Authority (TCAA) has been awarded a $4.1 million grant from the Tennessee
Department of Transportation’s (TDOT) Aeronautics Economic Development Fund to further the development of its Aerospace Park.
The purpose of the Fund is to advance job creation and investment opportunities in aerospace industry, which helps Tennessee’s airports continue to be important economic development engines for their regions and the state.
“The Aerospace Park is an important economic development project for our region, and we greatly appreciate the commitment Governor Haslam and TDOT Commissioner Schroer have made to its success through the award of this grant,” said Jon Smith, TCAA chairman.
When combined with local funding, the $4.1 million grant will allow a significant amount of site development work to be completed, making the Aerospace Park more attractive to aerospace industry prospects. TCAA will use $8.5 million of funding provided by the city and county regional partnership, the $4.1 million grant from TDOT and a $350,000 grant from TVA for the next phase of the development. TCAA will immediately begin the engineering work on the next phase of the Aerospace Park with site construction to start as early as September.
According to TCAA Executive Director Patrick Wilson, the city and county funding partnership has generated a great return on investment for the regional economic development infrastructure.
“The regional cooperation demonstrated by Bristol, TN, Johnson City, Kingsport, Sullivan County and Washington County helped set the Aerospace Park initiative apart from other projects,” said Wilson. “This regional partnership made it possible to attract such a large grant from TDOT.”
“For the Aerospace Park to receive the largest award from the Fund this award cycle is a great outcome,” said TCAA chairman Smith. “This is a major step forward in developing a world-class site that will attract high-quality jobs and private sector investment.”
Smith added the grant award would not have been possible without the support of the entire Northeast Tennessee delegation of the Tennessee General Assembly.
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Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport serving Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. TRI offers non-stop flights to four hubs (Atlanta, Charlotte, Orland/Sanford, and St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa) on Allegiant, American, and Delta. For more information about Tri-Cities Airport, visit triflight.com.
Aerospace Park is a direct-airfield development at Tri-Cities Airport in Northeast Tennessee. The site offers 21 acres certified for immediate development and an additional 140 acres under development.
Blountville, TN – Have you dealt with the stress of almost missing a flight, or actually missing a flight? It happens to passengers on a daily basis throughout the aviation system. Tri-Cities Airport would like to remind our passengers it is crucial to arrive at the airport on time (2 hours early) to ensure they don’t miss their important business meeting or delay the start to that long-awaited family vacation.
TRI provides an ease of access that sometimes lulls passengers into arriving only 30 minutes prior to their flight departure time. Airlines and the Airport request passengers be at the airport a minimum of two hours prior to flight departure time for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
Why so long before the flight? It provides passengers time to park the car, walk to the terminal, check bags, get through security, and arrive at their gate in time for boarding – stress-free. The airlines also need passengers to arrive on time and proceed through security so they may follow their procedures to help ensure an on-time departure.
Experienced travelers often feel they do not need as much time as those who do not travel frequently. However, the experienced passenger still needs to arrive early as the less-traveled passenger flows through the process along with the experienced. Procedures can be confusing and take longer for less experienced passengers.
TRI is working hard to improve the passenger experience in the gate area. Tailwind has recently opened a new retail area which has also provided more space in the restaurant area for seating. The Airport offers free WIFI, which is in the process of being upgraded for faster speeds and more connectivity. The business center offers a place for passengers to charge devices and catch up on emails, work or fun. Passengers can also simply enjoy the breathtaking view of mountains and take some time to unwind.
Two items to note for all passengers are the modified version of TSA PreCheck and additional screening procedures which will be implemented soon. TSA PreCheck at TRI is a modified version of the full TSA PreCheck program implemented at larger airports.
Passengers who have TSA PreCheck only need to remove laptops and liquids from their carry-on bags, unless other items alarm. At which point they will need to remove those items and be re-screened.
Additional screening procedures are scheduled to be implemented at TRI in October 2017 and nation-wide by May 2018. For more information on the additional procedures, please click the following link: https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/07/26/tsa-raising-aviation-security-baseline-stronger-domestic-security-measures.
Below is a chart regarding timing for the airlines that many passengers may not know and will help to understand the need to arrive at the airport on time. The times shown below refer to time prior to scheduled flight departure.
AIRLINE
ARRIVE at TRI
Counter CLOSES
Arrive at GATE
Airline DOOR CLOSES(will not be reopened)
Allegiant
2 hours
45 minutes
1 hour
15 minutes
American
2 hours*
30 minutes
30 minutes
10 minutes
Delta
2 hours*
30 minutes
30 minutes
10 minutes
*3 hours for international flight
An on-time arrival can help make the experience of travel less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.
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Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport serving Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. TRI offers non-stop flights to four hubs (Atlanta, Charlotte, Orland/Sanford, and St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa) on Allegiant, American, and Delta. For more information about Tri-Cities Airport, visit www.triflight.com.
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will address the media Wednesday, June 28 on prohibited items found at Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) to remind passengers about what is and isn’t allowed aboard aircraft when traveling.
WHO: Mark Howell, TSA Regional Spokesperson
WHAT: Interviews and tabletop display of prohibited items surrendered at the TRI security checkpoint
WHEN: 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28
WHERE: Tri-Cities Regional Airport; Meeting point: front of security checkpoint
