EGLIN AFB — Okaloosa County has teamed with the Federal Aviation Administration to build a new Eglin Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting station on military land south of Northwest Florida Regional Airport’s terminal.
County Airports Director Sunil Harman said the new station is crucial and will serve the needs of the airport and the base.
“This is a safeguard,” he said. “They’ve seen an increase in operations and we’ve seen a 5 percent growth over the last 10 years … in passenger activity.”
The station is expected to cost $3 million. Most of the money comes from a $2.74 million Federal Aviation Administration grant. The county will contribute $154,836 generated by passenger facility charges at the airport and the state Department of Transportation will provide $150,000.
Harman said the new station will be manned by airmen with ARFF certification and trained to respond to aircraft emergencies.
“It is intended to augment our ongoing partnership where (the base) will provide continued aircraft rescue and firefighting support for our commercial operations,” he said.
The facility will be south of Northwest Florida Regional’s terminal complex at the apex of the two runways on Eglin, Harman said.
The design phase of the project is complete. Construction could start as soon as February 2014 and wrap up in the late fall.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.
