Welcome to the
Greater Kankakee Airport
Serving the Kankakee River
Valley and South Chicago
Creation of the Kankakee
Valley Airport Authority
• Incorporated on May 3rd 1957
– Created a taxing district outlining the existing
boundaries of the City of Kankakee and the
Villages of Bradley and Bourbonnais
– Implemented a board consisting of six
members: one appointee from each of the
Mayors of Kankakee, Bradley, and
Bourbonnais and three appointed by the
Kankakee County Board
• Is the organization put to the task of
maintaining the Greater Kankakee Airport
Initial Airport Construction
• FAA approved airport construction on
March 12, 1961
• Original Specifications
– Runway 4-22 was originally 2900’ long x 75’
wide
– Taxiways, aircraft parking, and roadways were
constructed
– Main hangar building, electrical vault, septic
and well installations
– Initial construction costs were $805,500 and
were paid with federal, state, and local funds
Airport Growth and
Development
• The 1960-1979
– The Southwest quadrant of the airport
developed 61 new aircraft hangars
– Terminal building constructed
– Runway 16-34 was built
– Additional taxiways
– Radio navigation facilities were installed
Airport Growth and
Development
• The 1980’s
– Runway 4-22 had grown to 5000’ length
and 100’ width
• Instrument Landing System Installed (ILS)
– The FAA Flight Service Station was built
in 1984
• Provides weather services and flight
planning to pilots and air traffic controllers
in northern Illinois
• FAA technicians oversee all navigation
facilities
– Construction began on the Southeast
hangar rows, adding 22 new hangars
Airport Growth and
Development
• 1990 – today
– 20 more hangars built and 11 corporate
style executive hangars
– New airport grounds maintenance
facility completed
– City sewer and water service extended
to airport
– Runway 4-22 extended to 6000’
Current Airport Layout
• 2 runways: 4-22 6000’ long x 100’ wide and
16-34 4400’ long x 75’ wide
– Runway 4-22 has more usable length than any
runway at the Chicago Midway Airport
– Longest usable length runway between Chicago
O’Hare and Champaign Willard Airports
– Airport designed to accommodate large size
business jets such as the Gulfstream 5
(pictured)
– Boeing 727 and other large size aircraft may
utilize the facility, but are limited to weight
restrictions
Airport Statistics
• 50,000 operations annually (take-off/
landing)
• 115 based aircraft
• 110 full-time jobs and approximately 300
part time jobs
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IL National Guard/ US Army Reserve center
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Airport employees
Rotors & Wings airplane and helicopter flight
school and service center
– Curley’s Aviation service center
– Airport based corporate pilots
Fixed Base Operations
• Companies based at the airport:
– Rotors & Wings
• Flight training for both airplane & helicopter
• Aircraft rental
• Aircraft maintenance
– Curley’s Aero Services
• Aircraft maintenance
– The Ultralight Place
• Light sport aircraft sales and service
– Kankakee Valley Airport Authority
• Aircraft fuel services & ramp services
Aircraft Storage
• The airport has 115 aircraft storage hangars
– Hangars vary in size to fit small Cessna’s to large
corporate jet aircraft
– 100 “T-Hangars” for general aviation private aircraft
– 15 corporate type executive aircraft hangars
• Current airport inventory
– 105 piston powered aircraft ranging from light single
engine to cabin class twin engine
– 8 turbine powered aircraft ranging from turboprops to
corporate jets
– One jet ex-military aircraft and two helicopters
Airport Utilization
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ZLB Behring- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Sears & K-Mart- Product Distribution
Cognis- Chemical Manufacturing
Armstrong- Floor Coverings
American Spring Wire- Manufacturing
Crown Cork & Seal- Container Manufacturing
Dow Chemical- Coatings Manufacturer
Cigna Healthcare- Insurance Company
Thoromatic- Machine Manufacturing
Local Retailers: Target, Walmart, Best Buy, etc.
Airport Revenue
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Aircraft storage 55%
Property leasing 18%
Cropland & Farm leases 13%
Aircraft fueling services 7%
Airport businesses 6%
Property taxes
– FY 2007 1.6% of airport operations funding
derived from property taxes
Expenses
• Capital Projects 40%
• Employee salaries and benefits 25%
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– 2 full-time employees, 6 part-time
Airport utilities 8%
Insurance expenses 8%
Equipment expenditures 6%
Professional fees 4%
Airport repairs 4%
Taxes 4%
Office expense 1%
Federal and State Grants
• Airport works with grants from the FAA
and Illinois Department of Transportation
– Money is used for major construction projects
such as runway overlays, taxiway additions,
airport lighting replacements, and most major
airside infrastructure additions
– Airports grants are distributed based upon
airport size, need for the improvement, airport
operations, and number of based aircraft
– The FAA and IDOT do not fund 100% of any
project, so local funding is critical for airport
improvements
Recent Airport Projects
•$650,000 Main runway overlay completed - Summer 2007
•$400,000 Secondary runway lighting
replacement - Fall 2008
•$900,000 Main aircraft parking ramp
overlay, taxiway resurfacing, and
Taxiway lighting replacement Scheduled 2009
Airport Expansion
• Many available building sites for growth
and development
• Chicago area airports are closing or are
being threatened
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Chicago Meigs Field Closed
Howell/ New Lenox Airport Closed
Frankfort Airport Privately Bought
Joliet Airport Seeking Closure
• Airport Master Plan (ALP) for the next 20
years is being finalized
– Acts as a conceptual guideline for future
development
Surrounding Development
• South Tri-city area development will bring
more activity to the airport
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Kankakee Community College Expansion
Kankakee County Administration Center & Jail
Hilton Garden Inn & Conference Center
Wal-Mart Supercenter
Strip Mall & Restaurants at Exit 308
Splash Valley Aquatic Center
Oak Ice Arena/ Fitness Center
Prariewalk Housing Development
Future Love Truck Plaza
The Future of the Greater
Kankakee Airport
• Attract new aviation business and operations
– Utilities are in place for future development
– Space is available for aviation oriented companies to
develop to suit their needs
– In the future the development of the South Chicago
region will further enhance the airport, and it will
continue to grow as long as it is properly protected
and maintained
Contact Information
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Web Address: www.kvaa.com
E-mail: ikk@kvaa.com
Phone: (815) 939-1422
Fax: (815) 939-3452