The City of Murfreesboro released plans for a $6 million upgrade to the regional airport that city officials said its needed for decades.
And a recent runway expansion was not enough.
With 54,000 take-offs and landings a year, the airspace over Murfreesboro is busier than you think.
"Fuel selector -- desired tank. Throttle is to idle," MTSU aerospace students read through their checklists before taking off with a flight instructor.
MTSU is the airport's biggest client with its 750-person aerospace program. It attracts students from all over and is growing as fast as the city around it.
"I'm from Asheville, North Carolina," said MTSU Junior Jordan McKinney while strapped inside one of the program's 25 planes, "so it's definitely what I've been wanting to do my whole life."
Faculty said the program has grown incredibly quickly, in part due to the raise in pilot starting salaries around the country from $25,000 to $68,000 over the last few years.
However, the airport hasn't flown at the same speed, according to the airport's General Manager Chad Gehrke.
"It just hasn't been able to keep up with technology," Gehrke said, "we plug in things to the computer now and things go crazy."
The airport said it's bursting at the seams with 120 flights a day and a terminal that was built in the early 1950s.
"When we have people coming in to see what Middle Tennessee is like, what Murfreesboro is like, this is gonna more reflect our area," Gehrke said, showing renderings of a big change.
It's a $6 million proposal to replace the 70-year old terminal with a new one, about five times the size.
It'll will cater to the airport's number one customer with more meeting and class space. And also offer more to the public.
"This balcony we hope to have some tables and chairs and they can watch the airplanes come and go," Gehrke pointed to the terminal-length balcony planned for the interior of the runway.
Better cameras, briefing rooms and a video wall are also part of the plan.
Gehrke said this will ensure the Murfreesboro airport doesn't fall behind while other regional airports across the state are taking off.
Construction bids are expected this winter. After that, Murfreesboro's City Council will decide if the plan moves forward.
It got the full support of Mayor and at least some council members.
Council Member Bill Shacklett called the work "appropriate and necessary," citing the expanded terminal and additional hangar space.
Council Member Kirt Wade said "I’m in support of new terminal. As our city continues to grow, we must continue to make sure that our city properties are meeting the needs of our community."
Traffic Anchor Rebecca Schleicher reached out to the entire Council for comment but did not hear back from Council Members LaLance, Scales Harris or Smotherman.
If approved, construction could begin as early as the spring.
