Changing winds propel Craig Field to take off

Jim Corrigan started out his career as a training pilot at Craig Air Force Base in Selma in 1975. And he flew those same planes out of Selma when the air base closed in 1977.

Today, he is back at Craig Field, this time as its new CEO. His memory of the 2,200-acre air base travels back to when housing was full and planes packed the runway. 

But that hasn’t been the reality for the former base over the last four decades.

Since the Air Force left, Craig Field housed patches of successful businesses, from the years Beech Aircraft made planes onsite to when L-3 Technologies fixed aircraft under a government contract.

And the base has come close to landing several large projects, including another Air Force flight training operation backed by Lockheed and plans to convert it into a Kuwaiti flight school.

But economic changes, loss of contracts and maybe just-plain bad luck caused Craig to lose their existing businesses and fail to land potential new ones.

For the first time in 40 years, Craig Field’s luck set to change.

With newly renovated hangars now available for lease, repairs being made to the 8,000-foot runway and a new CEO in place with a background in aviation, the former airbase is primed to take off.

Changing winds

When the latest leasee left Craig’s hangars, the Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority invested millions of dollars to renovate three with 55,000 square feet of space to make it more attractive to new renters.

Recruiting to the industrial side of Craig Field hasn’t been an issue, said Wayne Vardaman, executive director of the Selma-Dallas County Economic Development Authority.

It’s the aviation side that hasn’t reached its full potential. Having a leader in place who knows aviation will help considerably, he said.

“Jim’s added value to Craig is his knowledge of aviation,” Vardaman said. “That gives us some expertise as far as selling it that we didn’t have before.”

Corrigan served in the Air Force for 23 years and flew planes for Delta as a captain for 21 years before retiring last year. He had planned to play golf and travel, but “when this job came open, my wife and I said we’re in this to make Selma a better place.”

Since coming to Craig Field in October, Corrigan has accelerated plans to prep the former air base for its next life as a flourishing aviation park. 

Craig Field cleanup

Corrigan points out that he’s not refurbishing Craig Field alone. He has what he calls “Team Craig” in place to move forward the vision, including a deputy executive director, a maintenance crew and an added grant writer position to apply for funding.

One of the first items on the cleanup list: Fix or tear down the 300 housing structures across the base and get rid of crime. Some complexes in Pine Glen are Section 8 housing. Some are owned by individuals. Some are falling apart. Some are used by drug dealers, which Corrigan said must stop if they’re going to recruit industry there. And, “these residents don’t deserve to live like this,” he said.

The Craig Airfield team is applying for grants to pay for demolition of the dilapidated buildings, many of which were built in the 1940s and now have trees growing through them.

They’re getting Alabama Power to add 40-50 new street lights. They installed security cameras last month at the entrances and exits that can read license plates and send red-flagged tags to law enforcement. The cameras can also see inside your car. And the footage is approved for use in prosecution of criminals.

They formed a Homeowners Association to get residents involved in the cleanup and have already fixed up a former air base building to serve as their community center for HOA meetings and social gatherings. There is also a neighborhood watch in place.

The Craig Field team is reaching out to the community to help in the cleanup, including partnerships with churches to oversee installation of new playgrounds and even working to bring the annual Jesus Day event and other music festivals to Craig.

And the Craig team is in the process of pressure washing and patching concrete in the runway to make it more attractive for interested industries.

Corrigan calls Craig a “diamond in the rough – but a very rough diamond.” 

Economic development opportunity

With the new hangars and a repaired runway that can handle anything from small private planes to 747s and cargo planes, EDA’s Vardaman and Corrigan see vast opportunity to attract big aviation businesses.

The runway is made up of 70 acres of concrete that lead to the hangars and is ideal for airplane or helicopter maintenance firms, distribution centers and more. 

Corrigan plans to court the Army National Guard to use the runway for training pilots and to get back a military refueling contract and go after other government business.

Today, small planes fly in every day, bringing corporate leaders with bigger Dallas County companies looking to avoid the drive. There is a newly built terminal for stop throughs and assistance refueling.

Forest Vickery of Aquamaster Irrigation flew a small private plane into Selma from Tallahassee, Fla., to meet with clients in Dallas County. He said he likes the Selma airport because they offer a transport vehicle for him to drive to his clients and back. And because he can refuel there before returning home.

The talking points of Craig are being put together into brochures that will bolster efforts to recruit industry to the property. 

“We want to bring in more jobs and money into Selma,” he said. “We’re here to make this an asset for Selma.”