Plymouth Airport eyes strategic growth with enFocus AER Plan underway

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission received a detailed status update Tuesday on the Airport Extension and Readiness (AER) Plan, a strategic blueprint designed to position the Plymouth Municipal Airport as a driver of regional economic growth.

City Attorney Jeff Houin introduced Kartik Maheshwari, a project manager with enFocus who holds a master's degree in engineering management with a specialization in aerospace engineering. Maheshwari walked the commission through the plan's origins, current progress, and the road ahead.

The effort began about a year ago when private interest emerged in expanding opportunities at the airport. The city responded by commissioning a comprehensive plan to create a clear, shared vision for airport-led regional growth. The plan encompasses identifying feasible development opportunities, assessing infrastructure, land-use, and regulatory readiness, and aligning funding pathways, policy, and governance strategies.

The project is divided into three phases: strategic planning, engineering and technical design, and phased implementation. The current timeline is split into two primary phases, beginning with a discovery phase focused on understanding the airport's current capabilities, assessing its condition, and interviewing other regional airports to identify a unique growth niche for Plymouth. Maheshwari said enFocus is nearing the end of the discovery phase and expects to transition into the design phase within the next month.

The presentation also offered a snapshot of where the Plymouth Airport stands today. The runway measures approximately 4,400 feet in length — a noted limiting factor for growth. The airport offers fuel sales of Jet A and 100 low lead, though it was noted that many jet operators prefer mobile fueling rather than maneuvering to the pumps. The facility currently has 18 hangars, all at full capacity, with six aircraft on a waiting list. Over the past eight years, airport revenue has grown 400%, reaching $270,000 annually. The airport sees approximately 10,500 flight operations per year, has 23 based aircraft, hosts three businesses, and employs two full-time staff members and a summer intern.

The AER Plan is expected to guide Plymouth's aviation development strategy for years to come as the city works to capitalize on growing interest in the airport.