NASHVILLE, Tennessee –The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) Board of Commissioners today approved a redevelopment plan for John C. Tune Airport® to expand, upgrade and replace facilities destroyed during the March 3 tornado and enhance the airport’s long-term viability.
Located west of downtown Nashville, JWN®, as the airport is also known, was first opened in 1986 and is the reliever airport for Nashville International Airport®. JWN serves the needs of the region’s corporate and private aircraft and is the largest general aviation airport in the state with more than 86,500 operations in 2019.
“We have a timely opportunity to dramatically remake John C. Tune Airport, and we are eager to move forward with this ambitious program to take JWN to the next level,” said Doug Kreulen, MNAA president and CEO. “The plan allows for ongoing flexibility in the coming years to meet the growing demand of the general aviation community. We’re appreciative of the input received from stakeholders and look forward to providing a superior facility that ranks with the best in the nation.”
Today’s action gives the green light for a Request for Proposals (RFP) to be issued to begin conceptual design and subsequent construction of MNAA’s portion of the plan—T-hangars, box hangars, plane ports, tie-down positions, grade work, pavement and construction of a maintenance building. The exact number of aircraft facilities has yet to be determined.
This initial development phase of the overall project as designed is estimated to cost approximately $43.5 million. The initial phase is tentatively expected to be completed by late summer 2022.
Aeroplex Group Partners and MNAA staff developed the plan—an eight-month planning process—with input from a survey of JWN stakeholders.
In addition to the redevelopment plan, work (planned before the tornado) is underway on a new air traffic control tower, which will enhance safety and operational efficiency at JWN. The nearly 99-foot tower is scheduled to be complete in fall 2021.
According to a recent study, in 2019 alone, JWN generated more than $1.4 million in state and local taxes, supported more than 350 jobs in the region and produced a total of $21.1 million of wages and salaries.
For a look at a complete overview of the conceptual redevelopment plan, visit https://bit.ly/36GobM8 .
