OCALA Fla. — The Ocala International Airport hosted a public meeting to get input on its ongoing master plan update that outlines the long-term development and operational needs of the airport.

Wednesday was one of the biggest turnouts in 20 years for master plan updates, according to the Ocala International Airport Director Matthew Grow. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Ocala International Airport is updating its master plan to accommodate future growth

  • Planned improvements include runway expansions, terminal enhancements, and environmental considerations

The airport hosted a public meeting Wednesday evening that discussed revisions to its master plan, a long-term strategy guiding infrastructure improvements, regulatory compliance, and economic development.

The plan outlines potential upgrades, including runway expansions, terminal improvements, and environmental considerations to accommodate the region’s increasing aviation demands.

“We have an existing master plan that’s about 10 years old,” said Matt Grow, director of Ocala International Airport, the day before the meeting. “There have been a lot of changes in Ocala and the region, especially with the World Equestrian Center increasing air traffic at the airport. The timing is right to revise and look at the master plan.”

(Ocala International Airport/Courtesy: City of Ocala)

The meeting was held in an open-house format, allowing attendees to drop in at their convenience, speak with airport officials and industry experts, and review details of the proposed updates. 

The meeting was the first of the process to update the Ocala International Airport master plan and is a result of six months of data collecting to show where the airport is and how officials expect it to grow over the years.

“This meeting is important because it officially starts the exciting part of the master plan which is typically a once every 10-year process for a public use airport," explained Grow at the meeting. "So, this is the first of a series of public meetings that we will have.”

The meeting took place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place, Banquet Room One. The turnout showcased the interest in the growth of not only the airport, but of the city.

Julia Ramos moved to Ocala in 2020 near the airport and is a local physician and a FAA certified aviation medical examiner. So, she likes that she can be involved in the airport’s growth.

“To get that input from different aspects of community versus you know whether they’re business owners or just citizens who live here, this is quite a unique opportunity," Ramos said.

Other folks are invested into the airport like PRP Aviation Chief Pilot Andrew Sweeney, who says he wants to ensure he’s in the right place for his company’s own personal growth.

“As a growing small business at PRP Aviation, we want to make sure we’re tied into all of the other entities and kind of hear what their plans are and thoughts are," said Sweeney. "Especially with the city and growth aspect so we can better plan our growth here because we are a fast-growing company that will need extra real estate to be able to grow smartly.”

For Sweeney, getting a chance to have input in the master plan process is something he says he appreciates.

“I want to fly every airplane, I want to be a part of every aviation related event and so with this, it’s important for me to know that I have an ability to be able to plug into the master plan," Sweeney shared.

Wednesday's meeting was the first of a series of meetings the airport plans to hold with Grow sharing that the next will be coming in about four to five months.

But overall, Grow says the airport just wants to maximize the opportunity to plan with those that use the airport the most and answer any questions they might have.