Development Is Taking Off As Felts Field Hangar Space Expands

General aviation is spreading its wings at Felts Field.

Three developers are remodeling or building new hangar space for owners of small aircraft.

“Lots of things are going on,” said Diane Russell, who owns a dozen hangars along Rutter Road, and is giving all 12 a face lift.

Dozens of new hangars have been built in the past few years at the airport, Russell said. Her remodel, which includes structural and exterior upgrades, will be complete by next spring.

Others are in the works, too.

First Pacific Aviation is remodeling an old 14,440-square foot hangar that used to house Loranger Aviation on the southeastern end of the Valley airfield.

First Pacific plans to lease out the majority of the hangar to small-plane owners and airplane mechanics, company representatives said. The renovated hangar will be ready for occupancy by the end of January.

Meanwhile, Custom Aviation, a flight training, rental and airplane maintenance company, is adding two new hangars next to its existing operations site along the southern runway. The hangars will be leased out to small plane owners.

Custom Aviation plans to build a third hangar at a later time.

“It’s heartening to see an increase in our operations,” said Todd Woodard, spokesman for Spokane Airports.

Flights in and out of Felts Field have increased about 10 percent in the past year, Woodard said.

Those are mostly small planes and charter cargo flights.

The goal is to attract businesses that support general aviation, such as small cargo companies, flight schools and other smaller commercial flight-oriented companies. The airport board wants to attract those businesses so there won’t be too many planes clogging the airspace at Spokane International Airport, he said.

There are currently 10 commercial companies at Felts Field, including Med Star, offices for Air Alaska Cargo, Eagle Helicopter, Rocket Engineering Co. and Western Avionics Inc.