Polk County is the Perfect Place for Aviation, A Soaring Industry Full of Promise

August 19, 2025 • News

Centrally located in one of the nation’s fastest-growing states, Polk County, Florida is uniquely postioned to thrive – especially when it comes to the booming aviation industry.

The county is home to four distinct airports: Lakeland Linder International, Winter Haven Regional, Bartow Executive and Lake Wales Municipal.

Polk County, FL is Prime for Aviation

There are several reasons aviation thrives here.

Weather. “Our consistently sunny weather is ideal for flying all year, and being central to the state, you can get anywhere very quickly,” said Lake Wales airport Director Amanda Lomneck.
Location and business climate. “Central Florida offers a unique combination of year-round flying weather, a central location within the state, and proximity to major transportation corridors,” said Winter Haven airport Director Troy Heidel. “The region’s diverse economy and supportive local governments make it easier for aviation-related companies to establish and grow their operations.” Lomneck added: “There is no state income tax in Florida, which makes it very appealing to aviation companies to establish their business here.” Bartow airport Director John Helms pointed out that “the center of the state has simple, easy to navigate airspace and affordable prices, allowing perfect conditions for flight training.”

Aviation talent pipeline. “Businesses here benefit from access to a large talent pool, nearby training programs, and a strong aviation culture rooted in both general and commercial aviation,” Heidel said. Lomneck added that Florida has the highest number of colleges and universities with aviation programs in the U.S., including Polk State College.
Variety of aviation activities occurring in Polk, from passenger service to cargo. Lakeland Linder airport Director Kris Hallstrand said: “What sets us apart from other areas in the country is we do all things aviation, from government operations to flight school operations. What is different is Polk County has four public-use airports, which have a combined economic impact of $2 billion to our county’s economy.”

Constant Growth

Hallstrand summed up why Central Florida is such a great place for aviation-related industries.

“We are a growing area as well. Lakeland has been listed as one of the top 10 ‘Boom Towns’ in the country,” she said. In addition, “Our elected officials across Polk County have supported the aviation industry and its growth; without their commitment none of this would be possible.”

Bartow Executive Airport

New Air Traffic Control Tower Operator Academy. Credit: Daily Ridge.

Bartow Airport has been focusing on training in 2025, Helms said.

“We partnered with Traviss Tech to open the first Air Traffic Control Tower Operator (CTO) Academy in Florida and the only completely publicly owned control tower trade school program in the country other than the FAA academy,” he said. “The Bartow Winter Haven Digital Tower Center has the first two Frequentis Digital towers in the US.”

The airport also has received funding and grants for several projects, Helms said, including:

Entry road realignment, which will double the available airside ramp area, allowing for more than 250,000 square feet of additional hangar space.
Funding for the development of the Digital Tower Center as well as the digital tower equipment.
Grant funding to build 14 additional T-hangars, which are currently under construction, and an additional grant to rehabilitate all of the taxiways in the hangar complex, also under construction.

The rest of this year includes finishing those projects and “continuing to grow the CTO Academy program as well as operational testing of the Digital Tower at Bartow Airport and installing the digital tower operator stations for Winter Haven Airport at Bartow.”

In 2026, Helms said, the airport will:

Begin design of the rehabilitation of Runway 5/23.
Continue to grow the CTO Academy.
Begin rehabilitation of the North Ramp restoration and market the new hangar sites.
Continue operational testing of the Digital Towers at Bartow Executive and Winter Haven Regional.

Lakeland Linder International Airport

The airport has had a busy 2025, Hallstrand said. A few examples are:

A well-attended SUN ‘n FUN, punctuated by record attendance and beautiful weather.
Avelo Airline’s continued growth, “building their passenger service and elevating awareness,” she said. Assistant airport Director Adam Lunn added: “Avelo Airlines continues to see strong demand and passenger growth in our current city pairs. We’ve also seen the return of Charlotte/Concord, North Carolina, for the upcoming holiday travel period.”
Efforts to build more hangars and to develop areas for our continued growth.
Secured a ground lease with investors for 16+ acres in the northeast corner to develop an aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, which will bring high-skill, high-wage aviation jobs to the community.

Significant planning took place over the last year, including updating the airport’s and terminal area’s master plans, she said. “In partnership with Visit Central Florida and ACE, we have completed the SUN ’n FUN master plan so we can all continue to grow together.”

Lunn said the airport team is ready for and “extremely excited” about 2026. “From furthering our terminal area master plan to new hangar construction, Lakeland International continues to see substantial growth as we seek to meet the aviation needs of our growing community.”

He shared a story about airport tenant Amazon Air. “One of the greatest stories is of two local pilots who took their first flights from Lakeland International that are now flying cargo for Amazon Air. It’s awesome to see these two pilots who received their licenses at LAL now flying Boeing 767s into the same airport where they first soloed.”

Amazon Air’s operation at LAL “continues to be a significant economic driver in our community,” he said.

Lake Wales Municipal Airport

This year has seen a lot of change at the airport. It finished four construction projects and started three others, Lomneck said.

“All of the projects we have completed have been funded by FAA, FDOT (the Florida Department of Transportation) or a combination of both,” she said, outlining the projects:

Reconstruction of the T-hangar taxi lane that allows T-hangar tenants to access the airfield. Taxi lanes are designated lanes that allow aircraft access to and from a taxiway and airplane parking position, terminal, hangar or other airport areas.
Reconstruction of a large apron off of our taxi lane, in front of one of our corporate hangars.
Installation of a new security gate that leads to the fuel farm. Before construction, this gate was only locked with a chain and padlock. This allows for easier and more secure access to our fuel farm.
Completed the design phase of a project to replace all signs, lights and markings on our main runway. The construction part of this project has been awarded and will begin later this year.

Lomneck said they have now started the design phase to replace its Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) and beacon. AWOS provides pilots with critical real-time weather information for safe flight operations. “They are both very outdated and in constant need of repair.”

They’ve also started working on creating a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan based on an assessment completed a few years ago.

“All of these projects will go through 2026. We have projects lined up for the next three to five years.” Lomneck said.

Expanding Unique Offerings for Lake Wales Airport

The airport is also working with the Central Florida Regional Planning Council “to apply for a state grant to create a secondary access road into the airport,” she said. “This road will open up the west side of the airfield to allow for more expansion. Right now, there is no way to access that side of the airfield without crossing runways. This is a multimillion-dollar project that would make a huge impact on the airport’s development.”

Lomneck summed up the airport. “Lake Wales Municipal Airport is very unique because of the variety of aeronautical activities and training opportunities. We are home to one fixed-wing flight school, Fun Flight Training, and one helicopter flight school, Rotor School. We also have a commercial skydive operation called Jump Florida, which operate almost every single day. Our airport is also home to two Paramotor Flight Schools, OneUp Adventures and Aviator PPG. Aside from the recreational activity we also have a lot of general aviation and business jet traffic. This year we have had about 34,000 operations, which is an increase of approximately 11,000 operations from last year.”

Winter Haven Regional

Heidel said one of the biggest milestones at his airport this year has been “wrapping up our $4.2 million South Ramp renovation, a major investment in improving safety, efficiency and capacity. We’ve also completed several hangar maintenance and upgrade projects and continued enhancing infrastructure to better serve our tenants and visitors.”

The focus for the rest of the year, he said, includes:

Hosting the second annual “Fly with Faith” 5K in October, “bringing the community together for a unique airfield experience.”
Replaced the airport beacon to improve visibility and safety for night operations.
Installed new emergency generators to ensure critical airport systems remain operational during power outages.

In addition, he said, “we’re completing smaller facility improvements, coordinating with tenants on upgrades and preparing operations for the upcoming year. In 2026, we’ll focus on expansion, modernization and technology integration.”

Key Initiatives for Winter Haven Airport

He said key initiatives include:

Advancing the airport master plan with FAA grant support to guide strategic growth, improve operational efficiency and plan for future infrastructure needs.
Transitioning to a tower-controlled airfield through partnerships with Bartow Executive and Frequentis USA, using emerging technology and a remote digital control tower to enhance safety, efficiency and operational capabilities.
Working to Implement elements from the updated master plan to accommodate more aircraft, attract additional businesses and enhance the passenger and pilot experience.

Credit: Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce

“Community engagement will remain a big part of what we do, with events and outreach designed to showcase the value of the airport to Winter Haven and beyond,” Heidel said. “Winter Haven Regional Airport is more than just a place for aircraft to land — it’s a vital economic engine for the city and the region. We’re proud of the role we play in connecting people, supporting businesses and fostering community pride. From large-scale infrastructure improvements to community events that bring people out to the airfield, 2025 has been a year of momentum, and we’re just getting started.”

Aviation in Polk County

As Polk County continues to grow at the heart of one of the nation’s most dynamic states, its aviation industry is soaring right alongside it. From strategic investments in infrastructure to partnerships that drive workforce development, the region is positioning itself as a major hub for aviation innovation, maintenance, and training. With a deep talent pipeline, business-friendly environment, and ample space for expansion, Polk County isn’t just keeping pace with the industry—it’s helping to shape its future. For those looking to land in the center of opportunity, Polk County is ready for takeoff.