Residents and travelers in Rockbridge County have a 45-minute drive to the nearest airport in Virginia, and that constitutes a service gap as far as the Virginia Department of Aviation is concerned.
So a feasibility study funded by the Virginia Aviation Board, which should take approximately nine months to complete, will explore establishing a small airport in the county and provide an economic driver for revenue, as reported by WDBJ.
“It’s seen as an economic development opportunity for the county. It also strengthens their ability to shorten response times for medical emergencies if you need to get a med flight helicopter in and out,” Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission Executive Director Ann Cundy told WDBJ.
Rockbridge County, City of Lexington and Buena Vista officials actually approached the aviation board a few years ago and proposed a county airport. After recognizing a service gap, the board selected CSPDC to conduct a study. CSPDC will work with Delta Airport Consultants and present findings to each locality and the aviation board. The study’s goals include determining demand for an airport in the county, what a regional authority would look like, the size and scope of a new facility for an airport and affordability.
As the term feasibility suggests, Cundy said the study will determine the cost to acquire property, construction and possible annual operating budget for an airport.
“We’re just evaluating feasibility. We’re not looking at sites, we’re just trying to evaluate and demonstrate whether or not this could work,” she said.
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Cundy supports a general aviation airport in Rockbridge County, because it would fit the comprehensive plans and goals for economic development in Rockbridge, Lexington and Buena Vista.
While not a commercial passenger airport like the one in Roanoke, an airport in Rockbridge would be an economic driver by servicing private and corporate planes, first responders and cargo planes.
“It supports local businesses and manufacturing in the area by making it easier for corporate leaders to come in and out and visit the area, or if they do end up locating a new industry coming in and out to check in on things. That’s a major activity out of the airport in Weyers Cave at the north end of Augusta County,” Cundy said.
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Educational benefits are also possible for an airport to provide a location for youth interested in the aviation industry.
Rockbridge contains a lot of forest and a county airport could provide air ambulance services for air firefighting, according to Cundy.
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Rebecca Barnabi
