US aerospace development firm Western has signed a marketing agreement with Horry County Department of Airports in South Carolina for a new corporate aerospace campus at the Myrtle Beach International airport's International Technology and Aerospace Park (iTAP). Western and Horry County will collaborate to maximise the potential use of available developable land.

The execution of this marketing agreement allows Western to provide the majority of the marketing initiative with input and guidance from the airport. The intent is to market to a wide range of end users and to meet their needs based on market research and feedback. Western will then finalise a phased development plan and initiate ground leases as each phase is released. The Western marketing agreement allows the airport to expand its marketing reach without expending its resources. This new corporate aerospace campus development will allow the airport, city, county, FBO and existing businesses to reap the benefits of increased aerospace traffic, based aircraft, fuel flows and associated revenues.

“The Myrtle Beach International airport is fortunate to have hundreds of acres of developable land with direct access to the 9,500 ft runway. The iTAP property, our market's strategic location in the southeast, offers affordable costs for living and doing business and creates an incredible opportunity for the right aeronautical focused company,” says Horry County director of airports Scott Van Moppes. “We are excited about the marketing agreement with Western and have confidence in its ability to identify a strategic mix of new aeronautical partners who will complement our region's prosperous aviation industry.”

“We are grateful and excited to serve Horry County and the Myrtle Beach International airport,” adds Western director of business development Michael Bergfield. “We see so much opportunity for the airport on every front and we are blessed to get to partner with such an incredible group of people.”

The company has also completed construction of a 40,000 sq ft hangar, by far the largest at the airport, as part of a public-private partnership with McKinney National airport. The hangar will store up to four Gulfstream G550 aircraft, have office spaces ready for tenant finish out and eight fully-enclosed garage spaces for car storage.

“Everything you can measure at the airport is trending up, from operations to fuel sales. It has allowed the city to capitalise on its expertise and reputation as a well-respected developer in the aviation industry while helping us meet the demands of new businesses pouring into Collin County and the larger Dallas area,” says airport director Ken Carley.

“The McKinney airport and McKinney Air Center have been receiving national recognition for many years and we are grateful to partner with such an awesome team and community as they bring their facilities on par with their reputation for world-class service,” adds Western president and managing member Brad Henderson.