History
Aircraft East General Aviation Hangar One
Gault Hangar after construction was completed (Corpus Christi Library F1 Box 17 F3 10).
The Beginning of Hangar One
Hangar One was commissioned by the Gault Aviation Company, a private air company based at CCIA, that was owned by Roger and Elaine Gault from 1946 to 1980. Gault Aviation began as a flight school that targeted military veterans, had a fixed-base operation for private planes, and provided maintenance shelves. They provided beginner-model planes, such as Piper Cherokees, for their flying lessons. The school hosted many events and programs, including recreational flying competitions and the Veterans Flight Training Program. The Gaults retired in 1980 and sold the business to Van Dusen Airport Services.
Through the Years
Since its construction in 1961, the East General Aviation Hangar One housed flight schools, cargo operations, fixed-based operations, and other businesses. The last tenant to occupy the hangar was Signature Flight Support, also known as Signature Aviation. When Signature ceased operations in March 2020, structural assessments determined the hangar to be unsafe and structurally unstable for airport use.
Gault Aviation (Corpus Christi Library F1 Box 17 F3 6).
Corpus Christi International Airport with Gault Aviation in the background (Corpus Christi Library F1 Box 17 F3 9).
Demolition of Hangar One
Several concrete spalls and pop-outs indicated potential failures in the future, which was a safety hazard for personnel and aircraft. The cost to remediate the existing structure was estimated at $8 million. Remediation was also discouraged because of the absence of doors on the hangar, which would further increase the cost, and the vaulted design reduced the useable floor space by forty percent. On September 19, 2023, Corpus Christi City Council approved a service agreement with Coastal Bend Demolition, Inc., to demolish the hangar. On November 21st, 2023, Hangar One was officially demolished.