Gulf Air selects Crestview's Bob Sikes Airport for $16 million expansion, creating 55 jobs

CRESTVIEW — A $16 million expansion project is expected to bring a new state-of-the-art aircraft hangar to Crestview's Bob Sikes Airport and create 55 new jobs for area residents.

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners voted last week to approve a ground lease and ad valorem tax exemption for Gulf Air Group, a company looking to expand its existing business in Okaloosa County by bringing half of its operation base to the area.

"The facility will essentially be a maintenance hub for their operations," said Nathan Sparks, executive director of the One Okaloosa Economic Development Council. "Right now, a lot of these services are being provided at their facility in Andalusia, Alabama."

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The anticipated $16 million investment will be applied toward the construction and equipping of a new 70,000-square-foot aircraft hangar complex.

The company has also committed to hiring 55 people at an average wage of $89,000, which is 179% above Okaloosa County's average wage. The positions are in addition to the 102 people currently employed at their existing facility at Bob Sikes Airport.

"Eight-three percent of this company's workforce are veterans, and that's their current 102 employees that they have in Crestview today," Sparks said. "I would suspect that as they move forward with hiring these 55 positions, you'll see a good number of those positions be awarded to veterans."

Why Gulf Air chose Bob Sikes Airport

Although Gulf Air Group reviewed other locations, President/CEO Tim Rhyme said the support of the county commissioners, Aviation Advisory Board, Airports Department and One Okaloosa EDC made it "very attractive" to expand their operations in Crestview.

The company, which specializes in the maintenance and operation of the L-382 Hercules aircraft, has been operating in the area since 1987. The L-382 is considered one of the most reliable aircrafts for hauling oversized loads to and from remote areas.

As an FAA repair station, Gulf Air focuses on "high-quality, low-volume maintenance" across the entire L-382 series of airplanes through its 14 CFR Part 145 Repair Station.

The series includes the Air Force C-130s as well as its civilian counterpart, the C-100, which is used around the world. In 2019, Rolls-Royce selected the company to be an Authorized Service Center for the AE2100D3 engines.

"We have found the aviation offerings at Crestview's Bob Sikes Airport to be second to none," Rhyme said. "And with the recent addition of the Northwest Florida State College Aviation Center of Excellence directly across the airfield from us, it will only get better."

The Aviation Center, which opened last year, provides Federal Aviation Administration, industry-recognized certifications in airframe and power plant mechanics, as well as professional pilot technology for both commercial air and drone pilots.

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Sparks said it has been a "game changer" for military service members looking to transition into the aviation industry, and has bolstered the workforce talent in Okaloosa County — setting the stage for further economic development.

The county has also made several efforts to enhance infrastructure at the Bob Sikes Airport. The Foy Shaw Parkway, which now serves as the south industrial access route to the airport, was completed last year.

"When a company like this makes a commitment to expand it's presence and move operations from another state to our community, it means that this community, the investments that we've made in workforce education and infrastructure, it means that those efforts are paying off," Sparks said of the Gulf Air Group expansion project.

Aerospace, defense, aviation targeted for economic development

Aerospace, defense and aviation continue to be targeted industries for economic development in Okaloosa County, with Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mel Ponder calling aviation an "exciting industry sector with tremendous growth potential."

On Sept. 19, Okaloosa County Airports Director Tracy Stage and his team celebrated the opening of a new $11.4 million concourse at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. Stage said he looks forward to growing the department's partnership with Gulf Air.

"We are very excited to see the new aeronautical development that will fit like a glove at CEW," Stage said. "Gulf Air Group is well poised to further their success and we are thrilled with their commitment to high wage job creation in our community."

The company will have to meet some requirements to keep the lease agreement with the county, including construction deadlines. Sparks said construction must be completed within 30 months. The company has already started on design work.

"In today's environment, construction schedules can shift, but the company is very confident that they will meet their end of the deal and get this project up and running—even as large and expansive as it is— within the required time frame," he said.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Gulf Air to undertake $16 million expansion at Crestview's airport