Airport Administration Narrowing Choices for New Terminal, SpaceX to Receive Welcoming Letter

Aviation Director Larry Brown

After  a presentation by Jerry Farrar, Vice-President of CH2M Hill, a huge construction company based in Denver, CO, Aviation Director Larry Brown announced a planned, pre-written letter welcoming Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, to Cameron County, the instant the FAA gives final environmental release.

Brown also prefaced his Director's Report, typically a bland recitation of monthly figures, computed both monthly and annually, with remarks indicating why these figures are important, not only in facilitating FAA funding, but as a "report card" indicating the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport's performance relative to other valley airports. "We compete with these guys," Brown stated.

Earlier, Mr. Farrar, mentioned that discussions with Airport Terminal Board, using a rating system devised by his company, had narrowed the prospective new terminal to two specific plans which he labeled Plan 2B-1 and Plan 2B-2. Both plans involve demolition of the current terminal and construction of a new terminal, either to the north or west of the current one.

Jerry Farrar, V.P. of Aviation
at CH2M Hill Construction

For comparative purposes, remodeling the current terminal is also included in the ratings, although Farrar made clear that option be "throwing money away," as the location of the current terminal does not allow for the larger planes the airport intends to attract and limits "flexibility" in terms of later expansion.

Construction costs projected to the Summer of 2015 would be $11.4 million to remodel the current terminal, $22.9 million for Plan 2B-1 and $23.9 million for Plan 2B-2.  Plan 2B-1 calls for a one story terminal with "ramp level gates,' while Plan 2B-2 calls for a two story terminal, with "elevated gates,"with a smaller footprint, more "flexible for expansion.  

Both plans, Farrar stated, "raise the terminal size to 55,000 square feet," suitable for the airport's "short-term needs."  The current terminal is 35,000 square feet.  

Noe Hinojosa, a City Financial Adviser, was also at the meeting and had questions for Farrar.  Hinojosa wanted to know if the FAA had approved the plans. Farrar stated they had not, but emphasized that he and Aviation Director Brown had a good working relationship with the FAA and could summon them "across the table" on short notice.

Brown, directing his remarks at Hinojosa, said the airport had just purchased a new chiller and ordered another.  "Both of those chillers will be transferred to any new terminal," he stated.  

Farrar added that "M & O," maintenance and overhead would be very low during a new terminal's first few years.  Hinojosa nodded in approval.