The City of Monroe assumed direct management of aviation services at the Monroe Regional Airport on March 1 of this year. For many years, the FBO (Fixed Base Operation) had been managed by private enterprise under contract to the City. The Monroe Regional Airport is a popular destination for business and pleasure aircraft due to the proximity of businesses and attractions in the areas of Monroe and southeastern Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Passengers and pilots find Monroe Regional Airport much more convenient than flying into the “big airport”, Charlotte Douglas International.

     Monroe Regional Airport operates a full-service FBO, providing aviation fuels, hangars, parking, tie downs, catering, pilot’s lounge (with shower), refreshment area, computer flight planning, satellite weather service, conference room, aircraft towing, lavatory service, ground power units, baggage handling, crew car, rental cars, hotel reservations, and all the other services normally provided at large metropolitan airports. All Aircraft Line Service Technicians, Customer Service Representatives, and the Airport Manager are experienced FBO personnel with many years of service in aviation.

     The Monroe Regional Airport meets the service needs of corporate and private aircraft from small piston engine aircraft to larger turboprop and jet aircraft. This includes over eighty aircraft based at the airport and the daily transient aircraft. A modern, attractive, comfortable, terminal building and friendly FBO employees welcome passengers and pilots upon their arrival at Monroe. The terminal building is also the home of the Monroe Economic Development Office.

     Over the years, the City of Monroe has made improvements to enhance the usefulness of the airport. The airport has a 5500 foot runway with a full-length taxiway, an ILS (instrument landing system), remote radio clearance delivery for instrument flights, an automatic weather observation system, full runway and taxiway lighting systems including PAPIs and REILs, and the recent addition of MALSR approach lights to aid in landing of instrument flights.

     The City of Monroe is also planning for the future of the airport. It is well known that a city’s airport is an important factor in attracting tourism, business traffic, and corporate investment. Currently there are plans to strengthen and lengthen the runway to accommodate much larger aircraft. There are also plans to build a new maintenance hangar and build additional storage hangars. The Monroe Regional Airport will help lead the way for business and community growth.