Mesaba Airlines Maintenance Hangar

Northwest Airlines (NWA, now Delta) selected Pickering to design an Aircraft Maintenance Facility in Des Moines, Iowa (DSM) to serve as a maintenance hub for their feeder carrier, Mesaba Airlines. 

The new 80,000 SF DSM facility includes a 65,000 SF maintenance hangar capable of housing four (4) regional jets and 15,000 SF shops and administration offices. 

The pre-engineered metal building has a 245 FT clear span and a 45 FT eave height with an attached lower roof, shops and administration area.  The entire maintenance bay is protected by both a High Expansion Foam (HEF) , a traditional water sprinkler fire protection system, and a flame detection system.

Special Cold Climate features included:

• Electronic Ice/Snow Melting Equipment:  Both on the roof and gutters and in the hangar door track.


• Low Intensity Radiant Heating System:  Provides quick, safe and efficient heating after the hangar doors are open or once maintenance operations begin at night.

Pickering was hired to provide:

• Project Management
• Architectural Design
• Structural Design
• Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing/Fire Protection Design
• Construction Administration and Quality Assurance Inspections

(Click for larger image)

Mesaba Airlines Maintenance Hangar
A/E Services
Des Moines, IA

Construction Cost
$9,500,000

Completion Date
February 2009