Local aviation firm to expand operations at Piper Memorial Airport

PublisherMay 3, 2021Last Updated: May 3, 2021

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Coastal Defense currently occupies Hangar 2 at Piper Memorial Airport and will be remaining there while expanding into a new structure to built on the south side of the airport.

By John Lipez

LOCK HAVEN, PA – A new hangar and accompanying office space will soon be located on the south side of Piper Memorial Airport. City council Monday night gave its approval to a lease agreement with ALE Holdings, LLC of Mill Hall for nearly 14 acres of vacant land at the airport, off the E. Bald Eagle Street side.

ALE Holdings principal Jeff Parker told The Record that Coastal Defense Inc. will be the primary tenant, maintaining, updating and modifying the firm’s current fleet of aircraft and any additional acquisitions. Coastal also owns Hangar 2 Avionics, which is a certified FAA “Part 145” repair station and a dealer for Aspen and Garmin avionics, providing avionics products. Coastal and Hangar 2 Avionics currently operate from Hangar 2 on the airport’s north side.

Parker said the expansion will cost in the neighborhood of $5 million and that ground will be broken this summer, to be completed by March of next year. The expansion will be done in phases: phase one with 13,600 square feet of hangar space and 14,400 square feet for offices. Phase two will add another 10,000 square feet of hangar space and another 6,000 square feet for office space.

The first phase expansion is expected to provide for 12 to 15 new positions, based on current workload, Parker said; phase two is expected to add a minimum of 12 new hires.

Parker said, “We will also be looking for additional tenants to provide aircraft painting and interiors. We already have local support for engine work with Lycoming and Columbia nearby.” Lycoming Engines is located in Williamsport, Columbia Aircraft Services in Bloomsburg.

The new south-side airport tenant will be paying $1,900 a month rent in the first year of a 25 year lease.

The Monday night council approval with ALE Holdings comes after council in February of 2020 agreed to declare the lease of that parcel with Anadarko Marcellus Midstream abandoned if a new lease would be obtained with Coastal Defense. City Manager Greg Wilson explained at the time that Coastal Defense was part of the lease for Hangar 2 on the airport’s north side .