Surrounded by aerial photos of the airport’s layout and historical photos of the facility’s time as an Air Force base and training facility, Menzo Driskell has seen, whether in person or in photographs, the transformation of Craig Field.

Since Dec. 31, 1998 through today, the executive director of the Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority, has seen the one-time base go through tremendous changes and endured tremendous challenges.

But in just a few months, those arriving in Selma by plane will see yet another improvement as they are welcomed by a new 3,000-square foot airport terminal.

“This is the front door to Selma for a lot of people and it is going to be a nice one to walk through,” Driskell said.

The new terminal, which will break ground in a few weeks, should be completed in four to six months and will bring about new and improved amenities for guests and pilots alike. It will also come with a price tag less than expected and affordable thanks to a partnership program with the State of Alabama.

In working with the state’s Department of Transportation, and more specifically the aeronautical bureau, the facility will be funded with a “dollar-for-dollar” program, leaving the authority to pay for just half of the expected $400,000.

“There is just a little more site preparation work that needs to be done before we can started,” Driskell said. “But once that’s out of the way, it shouldn’t take long.”

The new facility will include a reception area and lobby, a pilot’s lounge, showers, conference room and a room and equipment for pilots to plan out and file flight plans.

Driskell said the program, which has been advanced by the aeronautics bureau director, Dr. John Eagerton, is focusing on open general aviation facilities throughout the state. Selma would be the third such facility in central Alabama to be completed.

“We had a firm draw up three plans — one small, one medium and one large — that we could present to airports around the state that fit within the state’s aeronautical plan,” Eagerton said. “By doing this, we removed a lot of the front end costs associated with construction and gave the airports a blueprint they could start from.”

Eagerton said for airports to participate in the terminal building program, they had to choose from one of the three designs.

“There are some small changes that are made in each case, but if there are any large changes planned, where the architect has to come back in, then those are at the expense of the airport,” Eagerton said.

A 2,000-square foot terminal was completed in Elmore County and a larger, 4,000-square foot terminal was built in Prattville.

Eagerton said the company the state worked with to design the terminals, Goodwin, Mills and Cawood, were asked to ensure that construction costs for any of the designs came in under $500,000.

The company, who built the Prattville terminal, Webb Builders, is also the company who won the bid for the Selma construction.

In addition to providing improved amenities for pilots and their guests, Driskell said the terminal would also play a role in economic development.

“Aviation is becoming more and more important in economic development and recruitment throughout the country,” Driskell said. “And it plays an even bigger role in Alabama.”

More recently, the authority has completed work on restriping, repaving and strengthening the airport’s runways and has overhauled some of the airport’s hangers.

New personal hangers have also been added and an FAA-approved security fence has been installed, providing improved security around the entire airport.

Goodwin, Mills and Cawood, in addition to being the architectural designers of the Selma terminal, will also act as project managers for construction.