Tampa Executive Airport (VDF) is experiencing a major growth spurt, adding four hangar facilities that are all scheduled to be available later this year.

These hangar projects by various private developers mark one of the largest General Aviation infrastructure expansions to date for Hillsborough County Aviation Authority facilities at VDF. The four hangars will add about 42,000 total [MP1] square feet of space to VDF and are the result of more than $6.4 million in private investment.

The first hangar completed was a nearly 12,000-square-foot project started last summer by VDF fixed-base operator Skyport and was finished in March. An additional 20 vehicle parking spaces were included in the scope of the construction.[EC2] 

The second hangar project that started in June 2025 also will add another approximate 12,000 square feet of hangar space and is more than 50 percent completed. It is anticipated to be completed by end of summer.

The third hangar project will be an approximately 12,000-square-foot hangar split into two hangers that are about 6,000 square feet apiece.  This project is in early construction phase and should be completed by year-end.

The fourth hangar will be approximately 6,000 square feet and is currently in final permitting. The project should also be completed by the end of 2026.

The new hangars will add significant capacity and strengthen economic activity to position VDF for long-term growth. For more information about hangar availability at VDF, go to www.tampaairport.com/business/real-estate.

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Tampa International Airport officials on Thursday helped award-winning FBO Sheltair Aviation open another new hangar on the Airport campus, this time on the north side of Runway 10-28.

The new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at 4300 W. Tampa Bay Blvd. clocks in at 50,880 square feet of hangar space, 8,344 square feet of office and shop space and a 50,000 square foot apron for staging and fueling aircraft. It can accommodate large-cabin and narrow-body aircraft, including up to three Boeing Business Jets, and has a special tail door system to allow larger airframes.

“The opening of this new hangar facility is another clear indicator of the continued growth of general aviation at Tampa International Airport,” TPA Vice President of General Aviation Brett Fay said. “Sheltair’s newest investment responds directly to increasing demand while enhancing the level of service and infrastructure available to our customers. We appreciate their ongoing confidence in TPA and the Tampa Bay market and we look forward to supporting their continued success.”

The hangar also is equipped with a foam fire suppression system that meets National Fire Protection Association codes for full MRO operations.

This is the ninth hangar complex at TPA; Sheltair's last large expansion opening at TPA was in 2023, a four-hangar addition adjacent to their main complex on the south side of the Airport’s crosswind runway.

“The new MRO hangar represents the future of business aviation at Tampa International Airport,” said Lisa Holland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sheltair. “From day one, our goal was to create a facility that not only meets today’s operational needs but anticipates tomorrow’s. The completion of this new facility is the culmination of years of thoughtful planning, investment, and collaboration, and we are proud to welcome our tenants, partners, and guests into this exceptional new space.”

To learn more about Sheltair's Tampa facilities, click here.

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Tampa Executive Airport (VDF) is putting the finishing touches this week on multi-year airfield upgrade projects that have thoroughly modernized the Tampa Bay region’s busiest General Aviation facility.

Work began in 2020 to reconstruct the 5,000-foot Runway 5-23, VDF’s primary runway, as part of a multi-phase comprehensive improvement project to improve facilities and augment safety. New signage, electrical systems and bright and efficient LED lighting also were installed.

The new lighting was installed across the facility, including on the airfield, the airfield’s signage and around the airport’s hangars to improve visibility and security. VDF’s medium-intensity approach lighting system, which helps pilots land, also was upgraded.

“Keeping Tampa Executive Airport operational through years of construction while enhancing its safety and efficiency reflects the dedication of our entire team and all of our business partners,” HCAA Vice President of General Aviation Brett Fay said. “These improvements ensure VDF will remain a top-tier facility that continues to serve the Tampa Bay community for decades to come.”

By July 2024, work began to improve 5-23’s associated taxiways to allow larger General Aviation aircraft. For the final phase, secondary Runway 18-36, Apron C and its taxiways all have been rehabilitated. Apron C is VDF’s main apron, where larger aircraft connect with fixed-base operator Skyport Aviation.

All the work was completed while VDF remained open, requiring a complex series of phased closures to minimize the impact on tenants and the airport’s roughly 100,000 annual flight operations. Three privately developed hangars due to open in 2026 also are under construction. Finishing touches like painting stripes and markings are being completed this month.

The work at VDF cost $33 million and included funds from the Florida Department of Transportation and federal Airport Improvement Program grants, and Hillsborough County Aviation Authority funds and capital reserves.

CW Roberts Contracting was the prime contractor for Runway 5-23 and its taxiways, with electrical and lighting by Aviation Construction and Electric. Ajax Industries was the prime contractor for work on Runway 18-36 and its taxiways, with H.L. Pruitt Corp. working on electrical and lighting.

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Two months after a one-two punch from a pair of hurricanes, Peter O. Knight Airport (TPF) on Davis Islands in Tampa is again allowing nighttime flights.

The Airport was inundated with three to four feet of storm surge when Hurricane Helene passed offshore of the Tampa Bay region on September 26. The storm damaged the runway lighting system and hangars with salt water. TPF then suffered wind damage from Hurricane Milton, which hit the area as a Category 3 storm on October 9.

After weeks of repair work the General Aviation facility now has fully functioning runway and taxiway lighting, allowing the safe operation of flights after sundown. Runway lights were fully repaired the week of Thanksgiving and work on taxiway lights was completed Friday.

The Airport also has cleaned its hangars and is in the process of replacing a sliding door that had been damaged on a large hangar. Damage inside the terminal building also has been repaired, including replacing flooring and drywall that had been affected by water.

“Resuming operations at Peter O. Knight is a sign of the resiliency of the businesses and residents on Davis Islands,” HCAA Vice President of General Aviation Brett Fay said. “Thanks to the hard work of the crews working at TPF and the patience of our tenants and business partners, we’ve been able to deal with these historic challenges and get pilots back in the air.”

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s two other General Aviation Airports, Tampa Executive (VDF) and Plant City Airport (PCM), both suffered some damage from the storms, but not to the same extent as TPF. Tampa International Airport also had closed during the storms but reopened quickly to commercial flights.

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These three General Aviation airports form a vital reliever network allowing for safe, efficient and timely commercial operations at TPA, which also is operated by the Aviation Authority. 

Peter O. Knight Airport, located on Davis Islands near downtown Tampa, was not inundated by Milton but was heavily affected by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, when several feet of storm surge covered the airfield and damaged many of the hangars – engineers are working to assess which ones are now safe to enter. TPF has reopened for daytime operations, but damage to the airfield lighting system is hindering nighttime operations.

Limited operations resumed on Oct. 14 at Tampa Executive Airport, near the Florida State Fairgrounds. VDF sustained significant damage to some of their hangar facilities during Milton, but their airfield and taxiways are in good shape. The terminal is running on generator power, however, and crews estimate that power won’t be restored until at least Oct. 17. Downed trees are currently impeding access to VDF, so please use caution if driving to this airport. 

Plant City Airport in eastern Hillsborough County is home to the annual Planes, Trains and Automobiles event, and is in the best shape of the three General Aviation airports. Although some of their hangar facilities were damaged by Milton, power was quickly restored and after several days of being closed, they resumed operational status on Oct. 14.

TPA Vice President of General Aviation Brett Fay said that he was thankful for the hard work of the aviation community and those working tirelessly to brings these three facilities back online. 

“It’s been truly amazing to see everyone pull together during this difficult time,” Fay said. “We’ve been coordinating closely with maintenance teams and local partners to make sure we get these important airports back up and running as quickly and safely as possible.” 

Sign up for TPA’s On The Radar newsletter and check the website at TampaAirport.com for updates on each of these three General Aviation airports.

Less than a year after completing a major expansion at Tampa International Airport, fixed-base operator Sheltair Tampa is growing yet again.

The largest privately-held FBO in the United States is building a new hangar at TPA, with approximately 50,880 square feet of space for aircraft and another 8,344 square feet of premium office space, divided into two sections of 4,172 square feet each.

The state-of-the-art narrow-body hangar will have a tail door to accommodate larger aircraft like Boeing Business Jets and similar-sized planes, and will be fronted by about 50,000 square feet of new apron. The hangar’s aircraft space will be 318 feet wide and 160 feet deep, with office space bringing the total depth to 188 feet.

“Tampa International Airport has seen sustained growth in general aviation over the past few years, and our partners at Sheltair have been working hard to keep up with the demand for private aircraft services,” Airport CEO Joe Lopano said. “Sheltair’s vision and smart planning underscores its continued commitment to creating a premier experience at its FBO complex for visitors, businesses and customers.”

The project is being built at 4300 W. Tampa Bay Blvd, north of Runway 10/28 across the airfield from Sheltair’s main complex. The new hangar and office space is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2025.

"At Sheltair, we constantly strive to enhance our facilities and services to better serve our customers," said Todd Anderson, Sheltair’s chief operating officer. "The new hangar facilities at TPA represent our ongoing commitment to excellence and our confidence in the growth of Tampa’s aviation sector. We look forward to welcoming our tenants and guests to this exceptional new facility in 2025."

This new construction comes on the heels of Sheltair Tampa adding 77,000 square feet of hangar space and 32,000 feet of office space, which opened in September 2023. That project cost $26 million and took 18 months to build the new additions, plus more than 336,000 square feet of apron.

Sheltair now operates a 35-acre complex, including covered and uncovered parking, and has a current footprint of 300,557 square feet. Their hangars can handle a diverse range of aircraft, including large-cabin class aircraft, and feature a foam fire suppression system.

To learn more about Sheltair's Tampa facilities, click here.

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