The Austin Municipal Airport expansion project is cleared for take-off.

Now in the second phase, the project is moving forward and making progress.

Also, it is generating more interest among pilots using the airport.

"We're still in the property acquisition stage," said Jon W. Erichson, director of public works for the city of Austin.

"Also, we are finalizing the alignment of Mower County No. 3. It's being modified from the original design, but the changes are minor."

Lengthening the Austin Municipal Airport runway is a priority. That means acquiring homes and other properties in the area of Burrwood Addition along County No. 3.

The Mower County Board of Commissioners' has approved the new alignment and the additional land that must be acquired has been identified.

"Appraisals on that land are being made at this time," said Erichson.

The land being sought is farmland.

Erichson expects bids to be let for constructing the new segment of County No. 3 by the end of 2002.

Residents should see demolition and land-clearing of the properties acquired by the city for the expanded airport property sometime this summer.

Already several homes near the airport have been acquired and moved. Dave Whalen has started a small residential subdivision with houses he acquired from the city. The houses were in the path of the expanded runway.

The city also received a federal grant for $2 million-plus to fund a laundry list of items in the project's second phase.

"It's all moving along nicely on scheduled," said Erichson.

Bruce Budahn, manager of Austin Municipal Airport and owner of Austin Aeroflight, Inc. based at the airport, is excited.

"Definitely we're excited at Austin Aeroflight over the potential increase to our business a the airport because of the expanded runway and the prospect for more flights to land here," he said.

Budahn will get expanded training and conference rooms, a larger pilot's lounge area and other accommodations to enhance the air traffic using the Austin Municipal Airport.

General aviation is bound to increase usage in Austin.

I think 99 percent of the pilots

are excited over the project," he said.

Except for the 10-day period when Austin Municipal Airport joined other private airports in closing down after the September 11, 2001. terrorist attacks on America, it's been business as usual at the airport.

What lies ahead, when the project is completed should

raise the bar for service for all customers at Austin Municipal Airport.