Indianapolis Airport Authority Meeting - September 18, 2026

The Indianapolis Airport Authority board met on September 18, 2026, to consider multiple resolutions, lease agreements, construction contracts, and other operational matters. All items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were offered during the public hearing for the proposed land sale to the Town of Plainfield.

Discussion Items

Resolution 08-2026 – Early Termination of AAR Aircraft Services Lease
Cindy Howard presented a termination agreement allowing AAR to vacate the Indianapolis Maintenance Center (IMC) by September 30, 2026, in exchange for a $1 million termination fee. The early exit aligns with IAA's reuse strategy for the IMC. Board members questioned the status of bond obligations; staff clarified that special facility bonds had been settled and the authority had no direct liability. The resolution was approved.

Real Estate Sale Agreement – Town of Plainfield
Staff recommended selling 7.996 acres of land (underlying Air Tech Parkway East) to the Town of Plainfield for $122,500 per acre, totaling $979,510, based on an appraisal. The property lies outside the airport layout plan, so FAA approval was not required. No public comments were received. The board approved the sale.

Lease Agreement – Shuttle Group LLC (Building 238)
The board approved a new five-year land and building lease (Nov 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2031) with Shuttle Group LLC, the new shuttle bus operator for FedEx. The lease replaces a sublease from prior operator ABM Aviation and includes two one-year renewal options.

Concession Agreement – CC Holdings Inc. (Indiana Owned Store)
Marshall Burster presented a three-year concession agreement with CC Holdings to operate an "Indiana Owned" retail store in Concourse B. The store will feature Indiana-made products. Key terms: minimum investment $200,000, 6% percentage rent, 3% common use fee, and a $15,000 annual minimum guarantee. The agreement was approved.

Change Order #4 – William Cirillo Plumbing
The board approved a final change order for $321,098 related to the AOC server and HVAC right‑sizing project, which involved a new geothermal system. Unforeseen conditions during boring required additional work; staff will seek reimbursement from the design team.

Runway Electrical Upgrades & RSA Improvements – Eagle Creek Air Park
A capital maintenance contract was awarded to Michiana Contracting for $2,540,197 (including 10% reserve). The project upgrades runway/taxiway lighting to LED, improves runway safety areas (RSA), and performs crack repair. Board members discussed pavement management strategy: the last full runway rebuild at Eagle Creek was in 2012, and staff emphasized proactive, safe maintenance to align with grant funding cycles. The contract was approved.

Taxiway & Apron Rehabilitation – Indianapolis International Airport
A contract for $16,741,914.20 (including 10% reserve) was awarded to Milestone Contractors for taxiway/apron pavement rehabilitation. Staff noted that despite a zero percent diversity participation goal in the documents, Milestone achieved 26% local and diverse subcontractor participation, maximizing local economic impact. The project is grant‑funded; phase two grants were signed separately. Approved.

Airfield Pavement Management Program – Kimley Horn
A professional services agreement for $733,713 was approved to conduct a comprehensive pavement condition analysis, as required by FAA grant assurances every three years. The study will inform future grant requests for pavement projects.

Runway 5R/23L & Taxiway Delta Strengthening – Jenny Elzner
A $589,500 contract for a pavement "CT scan" (nondestructive testing) was approved to assess subsurface issues on the south runway and guide future repairs.

Runway 7/25 Repairs – Indianapolis Regional Airport (Amendment #1)
An amendment for $9,746 was approved to complete short‑term repairs on the runway, which was scheduled to reopen the following day (September 19, 2026). Board members discussed balancing short‑term and long‑term repairs with available funding.

Executive Director’s Report
Executive Director Ari Rodriguez introduced Hannah, the IAA’s Peter Felt Peterson Fellow, and noted the importance of developing future public service leaders. The written report was submitted for the record.

Key Outcomes

• All resolutions and contracts were approved unanimously by voice vote or roll call.
• The next board meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 15, 2026, at 8:00 a.m.