Craig Field projects take off in 2025 in hopes of landing aircraft maintenance companies

The key to making Craig Field more marketable lies at the end of new taxiways, according to Craig Field CEO Jim Corrigan

Craig Field has one of the longest runways in Alabama, which means there are few limits to what type of aircraft can take off and land there. However, the taxiways, the path that connects the runways to the hangars and terminal, aren’t strong enough to handle heavy aircraft. And attracting companies that maintain larger aircraft is a logical next step for the former Air Force base.  

Corrigan said when heavy aircraft land at Craig, they turn them around on the runway and leave them on a short portion of the taxiway so that only that small portion is stressed. The first section of taxiways will be redone starting in March thanks to a $1.7 million grant. Corrigan said this year they will be going for a $2.8 million grant to do the remainder of the taxiways. 

Corrigan explained that he is focusing on the taxiways because getting heavy aircraft like the four-engine C-130 military cargo plane and larger commercial aircraft to the hangars is key to attracting a maintenance repair operation to Craig. He added that these companies bring with them a lot of jobs. 

Corrigan said in three to four years he hopes to repave the runway in a way that will extend its life. “You have to plan ahead for this,” Corrigan said. “You can’t wait until it’s breaking up.”

Three dilapidated buildings on the flight line will be taken down this year, he said. The grant to take down those buildings was awarded in 2023, and the project is almost ready to go out for bid, according to Corrigan.   

Another project that will continue into 2025 is the dormitory. The old dorm with 75 rooms and central restroom and bath facilities will be converted into 41 rooms “like a luxury hotel” with suits on the bottom floor and studios on the upper floors, Corrigan said.

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Corrigan said he began the application process for a $3 million EDA grant three years ago. The grant was awarded in June of 2023. Because of the age and condition of the building, it will be a major project, according to Corrigan.

The building needs new boilers, new windows, new electrical and a fire-suppression system, Corrigan said. The price of building materials has skyrocketed since the Covid pandemic, he said.

“Six years ago, I could have done the whole (dormitory) building for $3 million,” Corrigan said. “Now I’m hoping to get two floors done, maybe two and a half.”

The approval process and coordination between government agencies has also been slower, Corrigan said. “Nothing is moving as fast as I want,” he said.  

Corrigan said the projects, along with cleaning up the grounds and making it more presentable, are “all part of the plan to make (Craig Field) a good training facility,” referring to the tactical training that Resicum is already doing at Craig.

Corrigan said they want to expand the training mission and attract new industry, which will help not just Selma and Dallas County but the Black Belt Region as a whole.