From building coastal homes to servicing jets, this Sussex County company has eyes on the skies

On any given summer Friday, aircraft ranging from single-engine propeller planes to large corporate jets can be seen swooping down on the runways and filling the skies above Sussex County’s only public-use airport.

The Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown houses just over 60 aircraft from private individuals and corporations in the area, and it’s an important access point for people traveling to the beaches in the summer, according to Airport Manager Robert Bryant.

Still, the demand for storing and servicing aircraft continues to grow, and Bryant recognizes that the county-owned airport – which has evolved since its creation in 1943 – has not kept up with that demand.

That’s where Schell Aviation, a subsidiary of the Sussex County-based home building company Schell Brothers, has decided to step in.

As the only applicant that responded to the airport’s revised request for proposal last year, Schell Aviation plans to build two 10,000-square-foot hangars for aircraft storage and jet maintenance at the airport's location along Rudder Lane. 

The proposal includes a 6,000-square-foot reserve field that will likely be used for fuel storage or parking. The company plans for a 30-year lease and rent starting at 40 cents per square foot.

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The Sussex County Council unanimously approved this proposal Tuesday morning, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. Once the FAA approves certain details like hangar height and location, the airport can move forward and create a contract with Schell Aviation.

Dustin Berlinger, vice president of operations at Schell Brothers, said the company saw an opportunity to branch out after hearing from customers and local business owners about a “massive shortage of aircraft hangar space,” prompting them to store aircraft in other states or subject to the elements outdoors. 

Furthermore, snagging a coveted spot in an existing hangar at Coastal Airport was reportedly “impossible" due to long waitlists, Berlinger said.

“The biggest barrier to entry is people don’t want to spend the money building the hangar,” he said. “It’s something we can do to help the airport grow.”

Because an existing Coastal Airport tenant already services smaller planes, Bryant agreed that a focus on jet maintenance would be beneficial.

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Schell Brothers formed this aviation subsidiary to pursue projects like this, and Berlinger said they hope the development creates more opportunities for corporate aircraft and attracts more tourism to the area. 

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“Being able to see this new growth out here, I think, is super exciting for everyone,” he said.

In a separate project that started about a year and a half ago, the company is also constructing a 31,000-square-foot hangar at Coastal Airport.

This is all part of continuing development at the airport. Other projects are planned and funded by FAA grants, such as expanding aircraft parking ramps and extending the primary runway that now measures at 5,500 feet, Bryant said. 

Beyond flying and servicing planes, the airport also includes a 175-acre industrial park that is home to several businesses that don't use the runways or hangars. Bryant said the airport as a whole continues to be a focus of economic development and transportation for the county.

“We want to make the airport grow," he said. "We want it to become a tool for economic development, a tool to help generate job growth for the county."

Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@doverpost.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.