Civilian and military airfield officials worked on preparations for the Sept. 14 runway extension ribbon cutting at a board meeting last Thursday.

The ceremony will mark completion of a 1,500-ft runway extension; with the added length, MidCoast Regional Airport at Wright Army Airfield will have a 6,500 runway. 

This “will benefit both the civilian and military by allowing larger aircraft that require more accelerated stopping distance to operate larger aircraft,” according to an airport Joint Management Board document.

Ground was broken on the runway extension on March 31, 2016.

The civilian side of the joint board agreed to make some repairs so that the airport can put its best foot forward at the mid-September ceremony. The building will be pressure washed, and painting and other repair projects are to be tackled.

The board agreed to pay an estimated $3,500 to replace more than 70 light fixtures in the 11-year-old terminal building. Workers said it was extremely difficult for them to replace bulbs in the existing fixtures. This problem will be solved by replacing the fixtures and a new Light Emitting Diode system should more economical to operate, officials said. 

State Rep. Al Williams, a member of the airport board, updated board members on the Georgia Joint Defense Commission. Williams is a member of the state commission.

Williams said the commission would promote and publicize military installations in Georgia, in an effort to protect them from changes made in any future Base Realignment And Closure action. 

“We’re going to push hard on this,” he said, “We’re going to show how brightly our Fort Stewart star shines.”

Kevin McKay, Wright airfield manager, spoke about researching the airfield’s namesake, Col. Lyle H. Wright. He said little information had been uncovered so far, but the project is continuing. McKay said the airfield’s portrait of Wright needed restoration before it can be displayed.

Parker can be contacted by email at joeparkerjr@hotmail.com.