PORT TOWNSEND — An Illinois couple is negotiating with Port of Port Townsend officials to acquire land and build a flight-based operation of at least 5,000 square feet.
The aviation operation proposed by Bartley “B.J.” Hallihan and his wife, Jodi, would house aircraft maintenance, a small retail operation and pilots lounge overlooking Jefferson County International Airport.
The Hallihans have been working with Port officials for the past two months to build the airport facility, which as proposed would also assume responsibility for the airport’s fuel operation, paying the Port a “flowage” fee.
“There’s a given demand there to serve the existing aircraft, pilots and fuel services,” said B.J. Hallihan on Friday in a phone interview from his home in Wonder Lake, Ill.
“We would hope to have an attendant on duty and an after hours services system.”
June 1 target date
Hallihan, who has more than 20 years in aviation and now runs a aviation maintenance operation in Wonder Lakes, said his goal is to begin construction by June 1.
At a Port of Port Townsend commissioners’ meeting last week, Port Deputy Director Jim Pivarnik said the operation would create a “healthier airport situation in the future.”
“In the long run I feel that this operation will take the airport to the next level,” Pivarnik told the Port commissioners.
