One of the biggest names in Bridgeport and West Virginia Aviation industry is bringing its footprint – and a massive multi-million-dollar facility – back to the North Central West Virginia Airport.

 

Late this morning, the Benedum Airport Authority approved a lease for nearly five acres at the West Virginia AeroTech Park for a nearly 30,000 square foot hangar for KCI Aviation. Led by President and CEO Chuck Koukoulis, the company’s roots go back 75 years in Bridgeport.

 

“This project is the result of our ongoing work with Pratt & Whitney and other customers and the need to get back into the flying maintenance side of things,” said Koukoulis, whose late father Angelo started the company decades ago.

 

Bridgeport Director of Public Information Andrea Kerr said the permit filed with the city is for $7.4 million for what Koukoulis said is the first phase of the project. The first phase, involving the hangar, will cover 27,367 square feet, according to the permit filed with the city.

 

Despite the presence dating back three quarters of a century, KCI left the airport property about seven years ago, Koukoulis said. The main operations have been at the old AFG property just over the Harrison County line in Taylor County. Operations will continue there, at least in the near future as operations are consolidated, he said.

 

“With the hangar portion, we’re looking at hiring 25 to 30 (employees) within a very short period of time,” he said.

 

The project will be the first at the AeroTech Park to break ground. When asked when he hoped to break ground, Koukoulis responded, “What time is it?”

 

Although it will not happen today, it could technically begin tomorrow. Koukoulis said everything was set to be signed financially on the lease deal Wednesday, August 13, at Huntington Bank.

 

Although he plans to start soon, he was not sure exactly when. However, when work does begin, City Construction, according to the permit, will be the contractor.

 

The second phase, said Koukoulis, will bring the total project to about 80,000 square feet. Not everything will be under a hangar or roof. This project, however, will be more specific.

 

“We’ll have fly-in engine work focused around the Pratt & Whitney products, which is our specialty,” said Koukoulis.

 

KCI Aviation, he said, has three contracts with Pratt & Whitney. He said that those contracts are with separate entities within Pratt & Whitney, he said.

 

The new KCI Aviation hangar facility will be located at 75 Koukoulis Way. The “75” is in recognition of the 75^th year anniversary of the family’s involvement in the aviation (starting with AeroMech – an independent airline), and the legacy of Angelo Koukoulis.

 

“I’m super excited to see this,” said Airport Authority President and Harrison County Commissioner David Hinkle. “We’ve been working with Chuck for well over a year on this. We’re excited he was able to bring it together and make CKB (the airport’s FAA call letters) its home.”

 

Hinkle is hopeful that this will be the first of many to come to the AeroTech Park. The area covers 80 acres and is adjacent to the new airport terminal expected to open within the next several months.

 

Initially, the plan for the first occupant was a building for Pierpont Community & Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology Program. That was announced in August of 2023 but is still in a bit of gridlock.

 

“We’re still having issues we’re trying to straighten out,” Hinkle said. “Hopefully, that will be addressed soon.”

 

Kerr said the city is thrilled to see the project.

 

“KCI has been around for a long time, and they are a well-known name in aviation, in Bridgeport, the state, and throughout the world,” she said. “They’ve done great things for aviation and to see them expand in this capacity is amazing.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Benedum Airport Authority Counsel John C. Ashcom, left, and KCI President and CEO Chuck Koukoulis with smiles on their faces as the deal was given a stamp of approval around noon today. Second photo shows the group deliberating the motions to make the deal happen, while Authority President David Hinkle is shown below.