MACON, Ga. — Construction work is set to take off at Middle Georgia Regional Airport for a new executive terminal.
But first, construction crews have to tear down the existing one. Macon-Bibb commissioners Tuesday approved more than $295,000 to demolish the current one. Lowe Aviation ran it for years as the airport's fixed base operator, or FBO.
FBOs handle a lot, from refueling to aircraft maintenance. Macon-Bibb County announced plans to take over the airport FBO last year.
"Took over the FBO there ourselves several months ago. We have a plan to build a new FBO there," Mayor Lester Miller said Tuesday.
The county's planning to get its "air guitar" going, trying to lean into Macon's music heritage. The new terminal concept is shaped like a giant guitar.
Before they start construction, the county has to finish planning. They can't finish planning while the old terminal still stands.
"We anticipate after demolition of this old facility there, we'll put out a request for proposals. And then we'll get the estimated amount there and determine what type of financing is needed to move forward with the project," Miller explained.
The main project covered under the commission's approval is demolishing the terminal, but the interim airport manager says it covers more than that.
"The old FAA facility will be torn down as well as the current executive terminal. They will both be torn down. They're in between the old World War II hangars," Heather Lowe — no relation — explained.
Right now, FBO services are based in the airport's main terminal because of the looming construction. The county says even though Lowe Aviation no longer runs the FBO, they still run their charter services.