Airport plans to build $1.8 million hangar

Yuma International Airport announced plans Thursday to build a $1.8 million aircraft maintenance hangar to support the airport's expanding Defense Contractor Complex.

Officials say the hangar will support the airport in its service to contractors working with Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and the Yuma Proving Ground.

"Every day we see new opportunities to support our military partners," Craig Williams, airport director, said in a statement to the press.

The hangar will be built by Yuma-based Lococo-Pilkington Construction and is being financed by 1st Bank of Yuma. Work will be overseen by George Eric of Architecture West, a division of Nicklaus Engineering of Yuma.

"... This is a Yuma project from top to bottom ...," Williams said. "We're keeping Yuma money and Yuma jobs right here in Yuma."

Williams stressed that keeping local money in Yuma and creating more local jobs are top priorities of the Yuma County Airport Authority.

Work on the hangar is expected to begin in early January, with the project spanning an estimated 10 months of construction.

The building will be located west of Yuma International Airport, south of 40th Street between Arizona and 4th avenues.

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