Venice Municipal Airport reopens with damaged T-hangar area off limits

Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·1 min read
An damaged aircraft sits where there had been a hangar at the Venice Municipal Airport in Venice, Florida, following Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Winds from the storm ripped steel posts out of the ground and lifted the entire hanger away.
An damaged aircraft sits where there had been a hangar at the Venice Municipal Airport in Venice, Florida, following Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Winds from the storm ripped steel posts out of the ground and lifted the entire hanger away.

VENICE – Venice Municipal Airport reopened for use Wednesday morning, though volunteer officers from the Panama City Beach Police Force will be stationed at the damaged T-hangars until the area can be fenced.

Earlier: Venice residents react to damage from Hurricane Ian

The airport was initially open in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian but closed Tuesday so it could be inspected for damage.

Venice Airport Director Mark Cervasio said the insurer and a structural engineer inspected the area Tuesday and determined nobody should be in the T-hangar areas.

“We’re going to secure that area,” Cervasio said Wednesday. “That way we could open the airport, having that area secure.”

The Panama City Beach officers will be stationed at the hangar area from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., while the airport is open.

A special contractor will be brought in to inventory and collect T-hangar contents for tenants.

Cervasio said he understood pilots want to check on their airplanes, then added, “It’s not safe in there, the next beam can fall at any time.”

Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Venice Municipal airport reopens after Hurricane Ian damage assessed