Project Description
To provide an Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) training facility within Charlotte County. Training is required once per year for fighting fires on an aircraft with props, such as an engine or brake system fire. Training on an aircraft fuselage fire requires training every three years. This new facility will provide for state-of-the-art training in lieu of a mobile facility or traveling to other counties to meet the training requirements.Project Location
26597 Airport Road, Punta GordaProject Impacts
The final construction completion date and FAA Certification has been extended by 94 days due to material acquisition delays of the COR-TEN Steel required for the production of the simulator.
The actual Phase II CORTEN Aircraft Fuselage production started in October 2021, the interior components had an earlier start date. This did not impact the cost of construction.
Latest Updates
SITE WORK: The security fence and gates have been installed. Install of all underground electrical conduit from the control building to the water recycle tank, main electric line from control room stub out to simulator are all done. Drains for the fire pit areas have been completed. Fire pit excavation has been completed. Concrete pour of all fire boxes has been done. Extension of the detention pond has been done. Lava rock install done, steel and fuel rails at fire pits are complete, concrete pour of operations pad is done. Work continues installing the fire bricks in the fire pits. Landscape is almost completed.
CONTROL BUILDING: All building final inspections are being performed at this time for Certificate of Occupancy.
Liquid Propane System: The 18,000 gallon tank, pipes and pumps have passed all inspections by the State Agricultural Dept. A Certificate of Occupancy has been awarded.
SIMULATOR: Delivery of the simulator fuselage was April 11th, a heavy crane set the components in place on April 11 thru 13th 2022. Fuselage components inside are being assembled and connected to include, liquid propane, vapor propane, water, nitrogen, electrical connections and data ports. Testing is expected late May 2022.
WATER RECLAIM STRUCTURE: The tank and components have been installed to include the Variable Speed drives and pumps. The slide gate is being installed along with additional safety fence along the handrails.
Budget
Phase | Cost |
---|---|
Design | $167,494,.00 |
Construction | $8,921,382,00 |
Other Costs | $303,734.00 |
Total Budget | $9,392,610,00 |
Schedule
Phase | Estimated Start Date | Forecast Completion | Actual Completion |
---|---|---|---|
Planning and Approval | 06/10/2019 | 04/23/2021 | 04/26/2021 |
Design Development | 07/18/2019 | 04/26/2021 | 04/26/2021 |
Construction | 12/10/2020 | 05/27/2022 | |
Turnover & Closeout | 05/30/2022 |
Supporting Materials

Project Phase
Construction
Last Updated
05/13/2022
Project Manager
Gary Burdahl
Public Relations
Todd Dunn
Email Public Relations
Project Number
g261902
Sponsor Department
Public Safety
Design Engineer/Architect
Wilder Architecture, Inc
Construction Contractor
Wharton-Smith, Inc