It’s been more than 17 years since Sussex County had its last airport master plan update.

Over that time period, the county and Federal Aviation Administration have provided millions of dollars for expansion and rehabilitation as the complex has grown into a major economic force in the county.

During Sussex County’s June 4 meeting, Bob Bryant presented council with a new Delaware Coastal Airport Federal Aviation Administration-approved 418-page plan completed at a cost of more than $571,000 by consultants McFarland Johnson. Bryant is manager of airport and business park operations.

The plan includes factors influencing future development and needs along with upgrades to existing infrastructure, and addresses safety and security, how all FAA standards will be met, and how environmental regulations will be met. It also includes a financial plan and a project schedule.

The FAA also requires a terminal-area forecast. In 2018, the airport had 61 airplanes housed in hangars with a total of 34,401 airport operations. That’s forecast to increase to 85 aircraft and nearly 48,000 operations.

Bryant said the FAA reviews all elements of the plan but only approves forecasts of demand and an airport layout plan.

Extension in the plan

The 20-year plan provides details on the airport’s operation, infrastructure and future projects, including those needed in the short, mid and long term.

At the top of the list is an extension of the main runway from its current 5,500 feet to 6,123 feet.

Bryant said the current runway can accommodate 75% of planes. The extension will allow larger jets to access the airport.

The extension project can proceed, as the work to relocate Park Avenue around the airport is completed by Delaware Department of Transportation. Removing a section of the roadway allows for more expansion space.

Other projects included in the report are hangar development, rehabilitation of existing paved services and terminal facility expansion.

Bryant said short-term projects are considered critical and immediate needs, which include updates to FAA standards and construction of a parallel taxiway at the airport. He said the project is multi-phase and multi-grant, with construction ready to begin.

A public hearing will be scheduled on the report.

Airport has major impact

Bryant said a DelDOT Office of Aeronautics report calculated the economic impact of all airports in Delaware, which includes income, employment and taxes. Delaware Coastal’s numbers are impressive, with a total impact of nearly $167 million annually to the state and region, including $5 million in taxes, $52 million in income impacts and 617 jobs. The report includes the business/industrial park as well.

Bryant said the county’s airport has the highest return on its assets of any airport in the state at 109%.

The airport has seen $40 million in recent upgrades. It provides fuel and service, rail access, hangar space, short- and long-term parking, and rental cars, with large corporate jet capabilities.

Operating at the airport are Skyline Aviation for fuel and servicing; Sussex Aeronautic Maintenance for maintenance, inspections and other related services; and Ocean Aviation Flight Academy for flight lessons.

Arena’s operates one of its restaurants at the airport.

The airport serves as a site for a Delaware State Police Aviation Unit helicopter and also houses the Delaware Technical Community College aviation maintenance technology program.

The major tenant at the airport is ALOFT AeroArchitects. The company provides services to private and corporate jets, including auxiliary fuel systems and full VIP interior designs on jets from all over the world.

ALOFT is also an authorized Boeing Service Center.

History back to 1943

The airport’s history dates back to 1943, when it had three 5,000-foot runways. It served as a U.S. Navy testing facility then and into the 1950s until 1966. The military was testing a catapult launching system and a rocket car, among other projects.

The county got more involved in the airport in the 1970s and reconfigured the runways. Extensive rehabilitation has taken place since the early 2000s.

For more information, go to delawarecoastalairport.com.

NEWARK, D.E. – A 24-year-old man is facing multiple charges after police say he led officers to a pursuit in Newark on Sunday. 

Delaware State Police arrested Jacob Singleton, 24, of Middletown, Delaware, for multiple felony offenses. 

On Sunday at around 2:23 p.m., a trooper assisting a disabled motorist on Salem Church Road near East Chestnut Hill Road observed a black Mazda run a red light. 

With emergency lights already activated, the trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but it sped away, leading to a pursuit. 

Police say the Mazda drove recklessly through several streets in Newark, prompting the trooper to discontinue the pursuit for the safety of other motorists.

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Shortly thereafter, troopers patrolling the area located the Mazda parked in a driveway on Montrose Drive, at what they described as “dangerously close” to an occupied residence. 

A resident then flagged down the troopers and said that the driver, later identified as Jacob Singleton, had unlawfully entered their home and was hiding in the bathroom.

Troopers found Singleton in the bathroom, and he resisted arrest, resulting in injuries to one of the troopers. 

Singleton was taken into custody without further incident. 

The injured trooper was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a nearby hospital and later released.

Singleton was charged with assault 2nd on law enforcement officer causing injury (felony), reckless endangering 1st degree (felony) – 3 counts, burglary  (felony), resisting arrest with force causing injury to peace officer (felony), disregarding a police officer’s signal (felony), multiple traffic violations.

He was committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $13,300 cash bond.

NEWARK, Delaware (WPVI) — The University of Delaware Emergency Care Unit (UDECU) was formed in 1976 and has served the community both on and off campus ever since.

Today, the organization has over 50 members, including students from a broad array of majors offered by the University.

UDECU is staffed with crews every night during the spring and fall semesters. Some students even stick around for the summer, although calls become less infrequent. They also provide stand-by services at events like graduations or festivals.

In general, they are called on to provide emergency medical services across campus, around the city of Newark, and sometimes beyond.

To learn more about UDECU and some of its current students, watch the video above and visit their website.

Camden family of firefighters, police officers celebrate new milestone