Sneak Peek
The Boca Raton Airport Authority recently completed a “Sneak Peek” of the band new U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facility. Through a series of open houses, elected officials, the pilot community, business leaders and the media where invited to tour and inquire about how this amazing new asset to Boca Raton.
Opening Soon
The Boca Raton Airport Authority will be opening a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility on airport property in Spring 2018. The building is constructed and finishing touches are underway.
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) service is much anticipated and a welcomed amenity for aviation users that call the Boca Raton Airport home base.
Presently, Boca Raton Airport tenants, who have travelled internationally, and must go through Customs, fly to another airport with a U.S. Customs service, such as Palm Beach International or Fort Lauderdale Executive. After clearing Customs, they then take flight again to reach their home destination at the Boca Raton Airport.
With a U.S. Customs and Border Protection service at the Boca Raton Airport, aviation tenants will be able to taxi up to the Customs facility upon arrival to report in Boca Raton, thus eliminating the extra flight leg.
The Aviation Community
Aviators based at the Boca Raton Airport are thrilled to have this CBP facility since it will increase overall safety and reduce the time it typically takes to return home. This elimination of short flights will also reduce the stress of making a low altitude flight home in very active air space after having already completed an international flight.
Customs service will decrease the number of lower altitude flights over surrounding neighborhoods. “The environmental impact will be measurable in terms of reduced fuel consumption and noise in the community,” says Clara Bennett, Executive Director, Boca Raton Airport Authority.
Marine Clearance of Customs
Marine travelers will also benefit from a local U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at the Boca Raton Airport. The facility will be an inspection location that participates in the Small Vessel Reporting System. Boaters will be able to participate in federal inspections at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site, if they are called in to do so.
The Facility
The Customs and Border Protection service will be staffed by federal law enforcement officers with access to a trained K-9 unit. These officers are present to assure that all users adhere to the highest safety and security standards.
The modern, 4,400-square-foot, state-of-the-art federal inspection facility is designed to meet all Department of Homeland Security standards for international arrivals. It will also utilize numerous energy-efficient features, similar to the LEED Silver Certified Boca Raton Airport Authority administration building that opened in 2015.
Approximately 80% of the $4.5M project is being funded by a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) grant, with the remaining project costs of 20% coming from the Boca Raton Airport Authority, meaning no tax dollars were used to construct the facility. It’s projected that the fee-based service will generate income for the Authority, which will offset the costs of offering Customs and Border Protection services. Aircraft clearing Customs will be charged from $50-$500 depending on the size of the craft. Marine vessels will be charged starting at $15 dollars per person.
