NEW YORK: The Savannah Airport Commission voted to pay aviation consulting firm Reynolds, Smith and Hills $621,610 for the design and construction oversight of a new U.S. Customs Federal Inspection Services facility at the airport.
The Jacksonville-based company provides architectural, engineering, planning and environmental services. The contract calls for programming, design, permitting, bidding assistance and construction oversight for the new facility.
The $7 million-plus project will include a $4.4 million building, significant site work, a new taxiway and entrance road, according to company spokesman Brad Wendte.
Early last year, the commission instructed staff to begin looking into the possibility of building a U.S. Customs Federal Inspection Services — or FIS — site at the airport for international flights, cargo and agricultural products.
That directive came after Canada’s Porter Airlines, which the Savannah airport had been courting for some time, announced it would begin seasonal nonstop service from Toronto to Charleston, S.C., a route Savannah was hoping to snag.
“Porter made this decision very quickly, and I think the determining factor was that Charleston already has an FIS on site,” airport Executive Director Greg Kelly said at the time.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport had an FIS in the early 1990s, when Key Airlines used Savannah as a hub for flights to the Caribbean and Mexico. But the FIS was in the old terminal building and, when Key ceased operations in 1993, the space was converted into offices.
Now, with the airport looking to attract international flights and cargo, commissioners agreed the need for an FIS was there.
“Customs and Border Protection has been conducting clearing operations for international General Aviation arrivals at the old terminal building for more than 10 years,” Kelly said, adding that the old terminal is scheduled for demolition in the near future.
“As such. CBP has vacated those facilities and has set up a temporary clearance procedure outside of a fixed facility,” Kelly said. “In order for CBP to continue operating here, we have to build a new Customs-compliant facility within the next two years.”
The commission had previously approved conceptual design of a terminal expansion that would include an FIS space for scheduled commercial flights in the event the airport attracts international business, Kelly said. The General Aviation FIS will be a separate facility.
“For safety and security reasons, we don’t mix General aviation and air carrier operations,” he said.
The new facility, which is expected to be operational in 18 to 20 months, will meet all customs specifications. While it will be dedicated primarily to clearing General Aviation — or non-commercial — aircraft, it will be large enough to process up to 200 people in the event the airport gets international charters or diversions.
In other airport business, commission chairman Sylvester Formey announced he was stepping down from his post and called for nominations.
“After eight years, it’s time to give someone else a turn,” he said, adding that he would stay on the commission.
Commissioner Stephen Green was unanimously elected chairman and Commissioner Shirley James was likewise elected vice chairman. Kelly remains secretary.
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