Marshall University Flight School - Supported by Para-Port Doors

Summary

Marshall University set out to expand its aviation education programs with a new flight-school facility at Yeager Airport (CRW) in Charleston, West Virginia. The new construction project required a hangar capable of safely delivering dependable daily operations for students, staff, and maintenance teams.

To bring the project to life, the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority engaged GFT, an aviation planning and design firm, to help develop a strategic plan and conceptual design for the hangar and associated training spaces.

As part of the hangar design, GFT needed to present Marshall University with a door system that would be safe, reliable, low maintenance, and built for high frequency use. Para-Port® Doors aligned with Marshall University’s requirements.

Challenges

Marshall University required a door system that could:

• Support frequent daily cycles common in flight-training environments

• Safe, simple, and straightforward operating procedures

• Designed with limited points of failure and wear components

• Withstand varying weather conditions in West Virginia

• Integrate cleanly into the hangar design led by GFT

Solution

Para-Port® supplied a single panel, bottom roll-up tension fabric hangar door system engineered with:

• Safe and simple operating procedures

• Virtually maintenance free with mechanicals at the ground level

• Smooth, energy efficient, and reliable in all weather conditions

• Long-term durability well suited for flight-school use

Para-Port® Door’s unique design helps ensure reliable day-to-day operations. With no hydraulics, lifting cables, or hinges, the system eliminates many of the failure points commonly found in other hangar door types. This predictable, low-maintenance performance has been demonstrated for decades, with many Para-Port® systems operating successfully for more than 50 years.

Marshall University’s new hangar now supports the Bill Noe Flight School with a modern, student-centered facility designed for daily training, aircraft access, and long-term program growth. Para-Port® Doors is proud to support the infrastructure that will help train tomorrow’s aviation professionals.