Local Airport Flies High In 2023

LINCOLNTON––The Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport is flying high these days.

That’s the word from Karen Surca, editor-in-chief of Florida-based Business View magazine. She recently spoke with airport manager Joe Tate about all that’s going on with this important implement in Lincoln County’s economic toolbox.

Surca noted that the months ahead are expected to bring in an increased amount of passenger traffic to many regional airports nationwide. When looking at the current operational capabilities and upgrades that may be in the pipeline, regional airport managers are assessing what needs to be done to meet this anticipated demand. And for Tate, infrastructure projects are a top priority.

“We have a lot of construction that will occur here in the next 12 months,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I’ve been here almost 12 years, and in the next 12 months, we will undertake more construction than we have in all those years combined. It is due to a mix of things. One large construction project will prepare about 15 acres of land for eight to 10 future corporate-jet hangars. This is going to involve about a $6 million construction project.”

Tate continued that one company has signed a land lease with the airport authority, and it has committed to building a 30,000-square-foot corporate hangar space on the southwest side of the airport.

“They should be breaking ground in April,” he revealed. “(With) another project, about half that scale, we have a different company, an individual who has had airplanes here for years, who has committed to building a 15,000-square-foot corporate hangar facility on the opposite side of the airport. The main project, though, which will help us reclaim 15 acres of land, is going to really help this airport economically. My bottleneck to growth has always been a lack of level, buildable land.”

Tate informed that the airport is currently situated on 473 acres. It has one runway with an asphalt surface measuring 5,700 by 100 feet. Located just 20 miles northwest of the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and 10 miles due west of Lake Norman, Lincolnton Regional is home to some 100 general aviation aircraft and six corporate jets. The airport offers all the regular amenities and 24-hour fuel sales for aviation fuel only. The 12-year-old, 6,000-square-foot terminal is open daily, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., except for Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day.

“Places like Charlotte are getting maxed out when it comes to space,” Tate observed. “Not only do they not have room for additional planes, but they are also more expensive and have a higher tax base. Our airport has moved to the point where we are self-sufficient and can charge lower rates. People are just naturally going to start using our facilities more.”

Joint ownership

Surca explained the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport is so named as it’s jointly owned by the City of Lincolnton and the County. Its board is made up of one official from the City and another four from the County. It’s a split that has been renegotiated over the years and is seen as reflective of the actual volume of business at the airport.

“Premier Air, the company that operates the flying school, also runs a maintenance facility,” said Tate. “It is next door to the flying school, and they have developed a pretty strong reputation over the years. We lease them the building they use, which is about 8,000 square feet, along with the old terminal for their flying school. The maintenance facility can typically work on five or six small airplanes simultaneously, so they do a high volume and are usually booked three or four months in advance.

“A lot of business pilots fly their airplanes in from other airports to get their aircraft either repaired here or inspected here,” he added. “They bring a lot of traffic to this airport that we ordinarily would not have, and they are probably one of our strongest commercial tenants.”

Tate, 68, plans to retire April 1.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m going to quit working, just that I’m changing gears,” he said. “But my goal until I leave here is to assist the airport authority in finding my replacement and to try and make that transition as smooth as possible. But mostly, I want to see that the launch is successful on all three of these upcoming projects.

“The next airport manager may have a different agenda from me,” he continued. “But I am confident that I have left a very strong, diverse airport authority that will help bring the transition about without any issues at all. As for me, I’ve owned three airplanes in my lifetime, and perhaps it is time to buy another. I really love travel. Perhaps I could even go back to commercial aviation, given the pilot shortage. We will just have to see what the future holds.”

Tate’s impressive aviation career goes back to his days at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There was an on-campus airport with its own flight school, and he caught the bug. He went on to work for Delta in a few capacities; start his own stunt plane aircraft company; and pilot stunt planes in air shows.

When the American Disabilities Act prohibited discrimination due to correctable disabilities, and Tate got to wear glasses in the cockpit, he became a pilot for Delta. After Sept. 11, 2001, and related pilot furloughs, he became interested in commercial real estate and took over as Lincolnton Regional’s airport manager.

But before he retires and hands over the keys, he’s making sure he leaves it better than he found it. Tate said he hopes the airport:

“Will remain a vibrant part of the business aviation community for many, many years. It’s only going to get better. It’s poised for tremendous growth over the next five years. I’ve been telling people for the last couple of years: ‘If you come back here in four or five years, you won’t recognize this place.’ A lot of it is due to Charlotte’s overflow, and so our day is coming for explosive growth.”