Construction Management Students Collaborate with Central KY Regional Airport
For years, EKU has been developing a unique partnership with the Madison County Airport (soon to become the Central KY Regional Airport). Dr. Bryan Dyer’s Construction Surveying (CON 320) class participated in a work-learn project that gave them real-life, on-the-job experience.
For this project, the class surveyed the airport for the purpose of building a new hangar. Students surveyed the airport area to provide accurate topographical information so that work on the new hangar could begin. The hangar, which is funded with a $350,000 allocation by the KDA (Kentucky Department of Aviation), will primarily house the expanding EKU fleet.
One student in the surveying class remarked that the airport project was a great experience and opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-life scenarios. Many of them will work on similar projects in the future, so this project was especially helpful. The class normally surveys campus areas making this a truly unique experience.
Airport manager Jason Bonham stated that recent airport expansion created an urgent need for the new hangar. Harsh winter weather and storms can damage aircraft making a holding place a necessity. Since EKU’s aviation program is the airport’s main customer, the hangar will primarily house their aircraft. Bonham anticipates completion by the end of the year.
EKU began occupying a large space of the Central KY Regional Airport around four years ago; and since then, the university has been working with the airport to increase ramp space and have the hangar built. The University currently has 14 airplanes at the airport in need of vital hangar space.
Future plans for the Central KY Regional Airport include a new terminal – another EKU partnership that will separate EKU Aviation and general aviation. Find out more about EKU Aviation at http://aviation.eku.edu.
Published on October 07, 2015