OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A master plan update and public meeting was held on Feb. 19 at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place to assess the growth of Ocala International Airport over the next 20 years and to plan for the following 20-year period.

The plan is still in draft form and has yet to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said Courtney A. Arceneaux, McFarland Johnson airport planner.

Courtesy: City of Ocala

The master plan process establishes a long-term vision for airport growth and operational efficiency, said Arceneaux. The regulatory framework is guided by FAA advisory circulars, state and local regulations, and industry best practices. The process included aerial surveying and mapping, inventory of existing conditions, aviation activity forecasts (awaiting FAA approval), demand capacity analysis, facility requirements, alternatives analysis, environmental considerations, financial analysis, implementation planning, and an airport layout plan. Final documentation will require FAA approval.

Focus Areas for General Aviation Airports

  • Accommodating private, corporate, and recreational aviation

  • Supporting flight training, maintenance, and emergency services

  • Enhancing airfield safety and operational efficiency

Accommodating Future Needs

The area’s exponential growth—Ocala’s metro area ranking first or second nationally in growth over the past three years—was a key factor in forecasting an increase in airport operations.

“We are starting our master planning process,” said Arceneaux. “This is essentially a blueprint for the airport. What we do is look at the past 20 years of airport history, and then we plan out for the future 20 years. So, there’s multiple steps to the process, we’re kind of in the third portion here. The first one was taking an inventory of what the airport has currently. We looked at the forecast. We looked at the past 20 years of operations, and from there we’re able to forecast out the next 20 years, and what we’re seeing from the past 20 years, is significant growth here in Ocala. We’re seeing a lot of people moving to

City of Ocala
Courtesy: City of Ocala

The master plan is designed to determine what will be required to meet operational demands over the next 20 years.

“Essentially, what we do is a gap analysis – what you have today, what we’re going to need in 20 years, and how do we fill that gap.” said Arceneaux. “We’re half-way through [the process]. In the second portion, we’re going to start developing alternatives. That’s where it starts getting a little fun – we get to plan some blocks in the airfield and show taxiway improvements and runway improvements, hangars, new development, whether that is airfield related, and airport related or maybe commercial or industrial. So, right now we’re just looking at that gap and what needs to be filled in that second portion of the project.”

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Another public meeting is planned within the next four to six months to present alternative plans and projected growth at the airport.

Increase in Volume

From 2004 to 2006, the airport saw modest growth, followed by a decline during the subprime mortgage crisis. Growth resumed slightly before dipping again during COVID-19. However, the airport has rebounded strongly and continues to see sustained growth.

“The city of Ocala is showing significant growth,” said Arceneaux. “That demand is going to continue to increase”

City of Ocala
Courtesy: City of Ocala

The master plan process involved running several models, with the preferred model based on a trend analysis.

“[We used] a compound annual growth rate of the past 20 years, and this is that preferred growth rate,” said Arceneaux. “What we saw in 2024 is 104,000 operations at the airport, and what we’re seeing in 20 years is 228,000, so we’re going to see a lot of growth here at the airport in terms of the infrastructure.”

Annual Service Volume (ASV) Thresholds and Recommendations

  • 60-70% of ASV: Begin planning for capacity expansion

  • 80% of ASV: Implement facility enhancements to prevent delays

Runway and Taxiway Plans

  • Runways

    • Add parallel or intersecting runways or high-speed exits

    • Optimize utilization before expansion

  • Taxiways

    • Improve taxi flow with additional routes or bypasses

    • Expand taxiways and holding areas as delays increase

  • Apron and Aircraft Parking

    • Optimize existing parking before adding new stands

    • Expand aprons as aircraft operations increase

  • Air Traffic Control and Navigational Aids

    • Upgrade ATC features for efficiency

    • Expand ATC towers or implement new technologies as needed

“The FAA has thresholds they look at in order to provide extra funding for growth at an airport, and what we looked at is the 60-70 % annual service volume threshold is when you can start planning for growth, and when you’re at the 80 % is when you really need to start designing,” said Arceneaux. “Right now, we’re showing [a projected] 87% for 20 years, but that’s when we need to start designing it. What we’re going to look at in the next five to 10 years.”

City of Ocala
Courtesy: City of Ocala

Arceneaux emphasized that the forecast is still a draft pending FAA approval. “It still needs to be approved, but we have been in communication with the FAA and that forecast approval is looking very promising.”

With Ocala’s continued growth, the airport’s master plan will serve as a critical roadmap for ensuring infrastructure meets future demands, allowing Ocala International Airport to thrive as a key hub for aviation and economic development in the region.

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