The Carbon County Airport Authority has received the go-ahead to build a new hangar at Jake Arner Memorial Airport.

Mahoning Township supervisors on Wednesday unanimously granted the Airport Authority’s land development plan waiver request.

The waiver request requires drainage easements on each side of drainage facilities to be provided to the township, and is not proposing any new drainage facilities.

Afterward, the board granted conditional approval to the Airport Authority’s land development plan.

That was approved contingent upon LTL Consultants’ review letter dated Sept. 16, as well as satisfaction of all notes listed in that letter, and a flash drive copy or mylar.

The new building, about one-third the size of the existing main hangar, would create a dedicated space for the Life Flight helicopter based out of the airport. It would also create more room for airplanes in the main hangar where the helicopter is stored now.

The Airport Authority is seeking state grants to fund the design and construction of the project, and already has a matching grant to fund a portion of the project.

The proposed building would be about 3,500 square feet.

Life Flight occupies space in the 10,000-square-foot main hangar, which is more than 50 years old.

The main reason for building a dedicated hangar for the Life Flight helicopter is to save on operating costs at the airport. During the winter months it must be kept in a heated area. Each time the hangar is opened, the building must be heated again. With the helicopter flying to emergencies as much as 100 times per month, the cost adds up.

A new hangar would also create more space to store airplanes for local pilots. Jake Arner Memorial houses about 40 airplanes and has a waiting list for pilots who want to park their planes. Moving the Life Flight helicopter out of the hangar would create space for 5 or 6 more.

Life Flight has leased hangar space at the airport since 2006. Their lease runs through June 2023.

In less than 10 minutes, the helicopter can reach trauma centers which would take an hour to reach by car.

Paul Smith, chairman of the Carbon County Airport Authority, said having the helicopter based in Carbon County saves crucial minutes during emergencies.