Leesburg International Airport Manager Charlie Weller has been named the Southeast region’s General Aviation Airport Manager of the Year by the Federal Aviation Administration.

 

Weller received the award at the 2011 FAA Communications Conference Jan. 27-28 in Atlanta, where he was recognized for heading up several important airport improvements. He was nominated by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Leesburg International Airport has grown a lot during more than 14 years of management by Weller. The facility has added everything from large corporate block hangers and rental T-hangers to new lighting, security systems and resurfaced runways and taxiways.

 

Major projects include the addition of an airport fire station in 2005, an air traffic control tower in 2006 and a 1,300-foot extension of runway 13/31 in 2010. More than half of the cost for those improvements was funded by state and federal grants.

 

The airport also has added a fueling station and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office. Commercial properties were acquired along U.S. Highway 441 to supplement airport income and to provide future areas for airport growth.

 

“It was an honor to receive 2010 General Aviation Airport Manager of the Year award from the Federal Aviation Administration, Southeastern Region,” Weller said. “Indirectly, the award signaled the excellent communications and cooperation that exists between the Leesburg airport manager and the Federal Aviation Administration – Orlando District Office.”