Macon-Bibb Commission approves $13.4M in funding for music-themed FBO terminal at Middle Georgia Regional Airport
On Tuesday, the Macon-Bibb County Commission approved $13.4 million in funding and authorized the mayor to execute a contract with Sheridan Construction LLC.
UPDATE (2/18/25): Macon-Bibb County is officially moving forward with the construction of a new Fixed Base Operator (FBO) corporate terminal at Middle Georgia Regional Airport that’s designed to reflect the community’s rich musical heritage.
On Tuesday, the Macon-Bibb County Commission approved $13.4 million in funding and authorized the mayor to execute a contract with Sheridan Construction LLC.
According to the resolution, the project is fully funded by the 2025 Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority Construction Fund.
Middle Georgia Regional Airport Aviation Director Doug Faour called the new terminal a “gateway to our community” during Tuesday’s pre-commission meeting.
“A lot of times, individuals will fly into our airport prior to making a decision or choosing Macon as a place to do business, and I think most of us would agree it’s very important to make a good first impression,” he said.
The new terminal’s design, which was first announced in October 2023, will resemble a guitar or piano depending on the angle, making the airport instantly recognizable from the air, according to county officials.
“So yes, our new FBO does look like a guitar,” Mayor Lester Miller said during the 2023 announcement. “When you fly over Macon-Bibb County, you’ll know exactly where you’re at. Hopefully, we’ll have many, many of our names of people that will be up there as well, showcasing our musical heritage to every pilot, every staff member, every passenger that flies over our community.”
“There is no airport terminal like this anywhere else in the world,” airport consultant Andrew Holesko, CEO of Passero Associates, added at the time.
The terminal will replace the current HighNote Aviation facility, which has been operating under county management since 2023. An official construction timeline has not been announced, but Mayor Miller did mention during Tuesday’s pre-commission meeting that the county is “getting ready for a demo of the old Lowe Aviation.”
For more details on HighNote Aviation and to see renderings of the new terminal, click here.
Additional airport improvements approved
In addition to the FBO terminal project, the commission also accepted $5.5 million in state funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Georgia Airport Aid program for additional upgrades at Middle Georgia Regional Airport.
According to the resolution, the funding will support the construction of new T-hangars, the extension of East Drive and the relocation of the airport vault.
- Total project cost: $7,350,000
- GDOT funding: $5,512,500
- Local match from Macon-Bibb County: $1,837,500
These improvements will provide additional hangar space for aircraft storage and expand the airport’s infrastructure to support future growth and operations.
ORIGINAL STORY (10/23/23):
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A brand new terminal designed to echo Macon’s rich musical heritage is set to be built at Middle Georgia Regional Airport, Macon-Bibb County officials announced on Monday.
The project, part of the county’s transition into managing all operational aspects of the airport, is aimed at driving economic development and creating job opportunities in the region.
“So yes, our new FBO does look like a guitar,” Mayor Lester Miller said during the announcement. “When you fly over Macon-Bibb County, you’ll know exactly where you’re at. Hopefully we’ll have many, many of our names of people that will be up there as well, showcasing our musical heritage to every pilot, every staff member, every passenger that flies over our community.”
The terminal’s unique design will look like a piano or a guitar, depending on the angle, according to Andrew Holesko, CEO of Passero Associates, the airport consultant firm on the project.
“There is no airport terminal like this anywhere else in the world,” Holesko added.
Construction is expected to begin in 2024.
The Macon-Bibb County transition into Fixed Base Operator (FBO) management follows the completion of its operational handover from Lowe Aviation, a privately-owned company the county says had been in operation at the airport for more than 76 years.
“Henry [Lowe] has been tremendous in offering advice and support as we move through this,” Airport Director Doug Faour said Monday.
FBOs provide a variety of services to pilots and planes, include fueling, hangaring and ground transportation, according to the county.
“With the airport managing all operational aspects, we can coordinate current logistics, plan for future improvements, manage projects both big and small, and be involved with every plane, pilot, and passenger that takes off and lands here,” Faour said.
The FBO is now known as HighNote Aviation.
“What we wanted to do was have a name that represented the musical heritage of our community and also tied into aviation,” Faour said.
The county says the transition has been six months in the making, involving meticulous planning for human resources, IT needs and security systems.
“It was our goal to have [Lowe Aviation employees] become part of our team and continue providing great service to planes of all sizes here,” Faour said.
The new terminal is part of a larger scheme of developments at the airport, including a runway extension project which broke ground in January 2023.
The first phase of the project involves constructing a retaining wall near Runway 5, funded partially by the Georgia Department of Transportation, with an estimated cost of $2 million.
“This is an exciting time for economic development in Macon-Bibb, and we’re going to make every effort to take it to new heights,” Miller said.
For more info on HighNote Aviation, and to see full-size renderings of the new terminal, click here.
To watch Monday’s full announcement, which was live-streamed on Facebook, click here.
