Orlando Melbourne International Airport Seeking Developer to Replace, Manage T-Hangars

By  //  October 20, 2020

New T-hangars needed to accommodate immediate and imminent demand at MLB

Orlando Melbourne International Airport (MLB) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a developer to construct, operate, and manage a new site of south T-hangars at the coastal Central Florida airport.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Orlando Melbourne International Airport (MLB) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a developer to construct, operate, and manage a new site of south T-hangars at the coastal Central Florida airport.

MLB is seeking a qualified and competitive team to enter into a long-term ground lease with the purpose of replacing and relocating a group of existing T-hangar facilities that are currently occupied.

The selected developer will collect and retain all rent from the new facilities. Home to more than 30 tenants, the existing facilities have reached the end of their useful life.

As a result of age, planned construction projects, and ongoing growth at MLB, these units are slated to be demolished.

The existing tenant base and community growth will create an immediate demand for the developer’s new T-hangar facilities.

“Our general aviation community is very important to us and we are seeking a facility that we and our south T-hangar tenants can be proud of,” said Melissa Naughton, C.M., assistant director of business development & properties at MLB.

“These new facilities, in addition to our newly rehabilitated runways and new air traffic control tower, will attract even more general aviation activity.”

Despite global impacts on the aviation industry this year, MLB has nearly returned to its pre-pandemic bustle of aircraft activity with last month returning to 97% of September 2019’s total operations.

Orlando Melbourne International Airport has been crowned the #1 Most Scenic Airport in North America, marking the fourth year on PrivateFly’s annually published list. (MLB image)

From 2017 to 2019, MLB’s airfield experienced a 45.6% surge in aircraft activity. Of 2019’s 133,983 total aircraft operations, more than 92% were from local and itinerant general aviation (GA) operations.

Growth by Melbourne Flight Training along with the remainder of MLB’s elite tenant base has added to the increased activity.

With companies like Northrop Grumman, Embraer Executive Jets, L3Harris, Collins Aerospace, Thales and many others, a robust general aviation community is made up of their highly-paid active and retired employees.

Plus, further growth is ahead with the announcement of Aerion Supersonic naming MLB as the new home of its new world HQ where it will design and build its AS2 supersonic business jet, creating 675 new high-paying aviation jobs.

“New T-hangar facilities are greatly needed and would be well received,” said Ray Liles who is a local pilot, the president of the Melbourne Area Pilots Association and a tenant of the aging facilities.

“Our general aviation community at MLB is established, energetic, and ready for replacement facilities to accommodate the great demand.”

Additional general aviation interest at MLB is anticipated upon the April 2022 completion of an on-airport hotel that will provide enthusiasts with an incredible view of the airfield and Florida’s coastline from its rooftop bar.

MLB is quickly becoming a flying destination recently being named the #1 Most Scenic Airport Approach in North America, #4 in the world, on PrivateFly.com’s annual list.

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