U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined DelDOT Secretary Nicole Majeski, Dover Air Force Base Commander Col. William McDonald and Kent County Economic Development Director Linda Parkowski recently to celebrate the next step in expanding Kent County’s economic development with the Joint Use Agreement signing at the Central Dover Aviation Complex, formerly known as the Civil Air Terminal.
The Dover Civil Air Terminal, opened in 1982, is one of five regional airports managed by the Delaware River and Bay Authority. It is a civilian-use terminal and aircraft parking apron located adjacent to Dover Air Force Base and is operated in accordance with a Joint-Use Agreement with the United States Air Force.
It is one of 10 joint-use military airfields with the Air Force nationwide. It currently has two runways which come in under 10,000 and 13,000 feet, but it remains one of the only locations in the country long enough to land a space shuttle.
“This agreement is the result of a decade-long effort to expand use of the Dover Civil Air Terminal and create opportunities for local businesses to grow. As owner of the facility, DelDOT is grateful and excited for the potential it holds for Kent County and Delaware,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski.
“The signing of the Joint Use Agreement between the Department of Defense and Delaware Department of Transportation will open the doors for more flight activity – generating more revenue and potential for businesses to move to Kent County – for the next 50 years to come! With the strong partnerships between the Dover community and the Dover Air Force Base, this agreement will help usher in an era of prosperity for Central Delaware,” said Senator Carper.