the iqaac held a ribbon cutting ceremony in taji 17 january to formally begin operations in their newest maintenance facility. the massive aircraft hangar is a $9.8 million project that began in 2009. the collaboration between the iqaac and the united states provided a maintenance hangar large enough for current and growing future aviation mission requirements. at more than 240 feet long and 50 feet tall, the hangar is the largest maintenance hangar in iraq and the largest clear-span building in the entire middle east. the hangar bay is large enough to support multiple airframes and activities that have a logical work flow relationship simultaneously. it is also part of a larger complex that includes numerous offices and maintenance shops.