Maine Airport Turned Over to Civilians

Naval Air Station Brunswick (Maine) is now officially a civilian facility. The former military base was turned over this week as planned. In April, Massachusetts-based FlightLevel Aviation is set to open an FBO on the 990-acre site, and Kestrel Aircraft, led by Cirrus Design co-founder Alan Klapmeier, has already begun moving into the former submarine-patrol squadron hangar on the airport. Future plans include a co-op program with a local college for a course of study in advanced composites, with students earmarked for internship programs with Kestrel. The navy base includes several buildings and other facilities that had been upgraded by the military within the past decade, making the location highly attractive to aviation companies.