Stennis International Airport – Hangars, Expansion and More
MS – Stennis International Airport (HSA) is located in Kiln, MS, and averages 108 aircraft operations a day, with 62 percent of those operations being military. Twenty percent is transient general aviation. Two percent of the operations are air taxis, and less than 1 percent comprises commercial aviation. However, despite their lack of commercial operations, HSA is vital to Hancock County, MS. This is because of their general aviation and military operations, both of which love the airport due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. The airport is vital to the community for several reasons, including its dedication to pilot and equipment testing and its positive economic impact on the community. For these reasons and more, Stennis International Airport is undergoing several expansion projects.
Jet Engine Run-Up Pad for Jet Engine Testing
One of HSA’s recent projects is a jet engine run-up pad. Once this run-up pad is complete, it will allow for the testing and certification of trainer jets, fighter jets, and attack jets. This single addition will set HSA apart from other general aviation airports. The run-up pad will be designed with two feet of concrete in the center and half a foot of concrete on each side while being 80 feet deep and 40 feet wide, allowing the new jets to be backed into the pad for testing and certification. The run-up pad is slated to be completed in April 2024.
New Apron Pad for Increased Airport Operations
Stennis International Airport is also building a 98,000-square-foot apron pad, more commonly known as a ramp area or tarmac. Once this project is complete, it will allow companies to land and store additional, larger aircraft on the property. It’s expected that this will increase airport revenue and further expand operations on the airfield.
New Hangar for Solar-Powered Aircraft
One of the most impressive new builds for HSA is the construction of a new hangar for Skydweller Aero. Stennis International Airport’s location was a key incentive for Skydweller Aero to move into the area. This unique company is a Spanish (Spain)/US startup that builds unmanned, solar-powered aircraft. They currently have a design center located in Spain and a headquarters in Oklahoma City, and they plan to build an operations center at HSA due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. This means that any aircraft they launch can quickly head out over the water and anywhere else in the world.
To that end, they are building a large hangar at the north end of Runway 18/36. Their revolutionary, modern Solar Impulse 2 aircraft is unmanned, solar-powered, and fly-by-wire, and it just recently completed its first round-the-world trip. After that trip, it was slated to be transported from Spain to the US with the help of a 747.
The Solar Impulse 2 is impressive, with a weight of 5,000 pounds, a wingspan of 236 feet, and a body 71 feet long. Skydweller Aero hopes to have the aircraft put back together and in the air by March 2024. It’s designed to fly missions of up to 24 hours and reach altitudes of 38,000 feet. The Solar Impulse 2 also has a payload of 500 pounds, which allows it to carry surveillance and communication equipment. Skydweller Aero anticipates that this aircraft will be useful for military and domestic operations, including natural disaster support, aerial mapping, and radar. The military is highly interested in the project, and the US Navy has invested five million dollars.
In the near term, Skydweller Aero hopes to hire 35 employees, mostly technicians and engineers. They are also starting to work with colleges and universities to develop composite materials courses. The founders of Skydweller Areo believe that composite materials are the wave of the future in aircraft construction.
In the future, Skydweller Aero hopes to invest upwards of 40 million dollars at Stennis International Airport and to have a fleet of solar-powered, unmanned aircraft that can go on remote missions while being controlled from the ground.
Stennis International Airport is at the forefront of future aviation development and growth, and its current and future planned construction projects prove it. With all of these new developments, they hope to attract aircraft manufacturers and suppliers to the area.