Taking advantage of a lull in traffic due to a major runway reconstruction project, Southern Sky Aviation, the sole service provider at Mississippi’s Trent Lott International Airport (KPQL), has renovated its 4,300-sq-ft FBO terminal. A grand reopening is scheduled for April 13.

When the company acquired the FBO last year, the airport’s 6,500-foot Runway 17/35 was under construction and closed to larger aircraft. Since then, four inches of surface asphalt has been added, allowing the runway to handle aircraft up to 315,000 pounds. In the interim, the company rebranded its facility, adding new furniture, paint, and lighting. It features a lobby with refreshment bar, pilot lounge with snooze room, flight-planning area, 10-seat conference room, concierge, and a cafe that offers breakfast and lunch. The FBO has 20,000 sq ft of hangar space that can accommodate midsize business jets.

Additionally, the Avfuel-branded location acquired a refueler fleet consisting of 5,000- and 3,000-gallon jet tankers, a new avgas truck, and a 24-hour self-serve avgas pump. It will install a new 20,000-gallon jet fuel tank later this month.

“Southern Sky Aviation is excited the runway KPQL has reopened,” said Darryl Brewer, president of the company’s FBO division. “We look forward to sharing our freshly updated FBO with the aviation community.”