Senate approves aviation center

GARY, Ind. -- A Senate committee has approved almost $15.6 million for the first phase of construction of an Indiana Army National Guard aviation center at the Gary/Chicago Airport.\nThe project must by reviewed by the Defense Authorization and Appropriations conference committees before the funding gets final approval, which is expected this fall.\nConstruction of a new Limited Army Aviation Center at Gary "is a win-win situation," said Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., who was recently appointed to the Senate Armed Services Committee.\n"It will allow for better readiness for our men and women in uniform and provide an expanded homeland security role for the Guard in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago metro region," he said.\nBayh said the project would create almost 250 jobs in the area.\nThe Armed Services Committee approved the funding Thursday.\nThe 91,000-square-foot center would house the Guard's 40-bed medical unit, a team that would respond to any attacks involving weapons of mass destruction, five Blackhawk helicopters, an air evacuation unit and a meteorological unit. It also would provide classroom, storage, maintenance, shower-locker and administrative areas.\nThe Gary airport's administrator, Paul Karas, said he is pleased the project is moving forward.\n"We welcome the decision to base (the National Guard) here and to construct facilities here," he said. "It increases airport activity, it brings personnel, and it brings services."\nKaras said construction of the aviation center "goes hand in glove" with efforts to attract business to Gary/Chicago Airport and promotes it as an alternative to other Chicago-area terminals.\n"It's just another one of those increases in business and use that has been raising the airport profile both in Chicagoland and Washington," he said.