The Virginia Aviation Board has approved more than $4.5 million of funding to be used by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority for several planned improvement projects, including the first, preliminary phase of a runway expansion that could result in slightly lower airfares.
Commerce Prof. William Kehoe, who serves as a regional representative on the VAB, noted that the VAB’s mission is to promote Virginia’s airports and air travel. For airports to receive money from the VAB, he said, they must present a project that they want to complete. The VAB then uses an objective system to determine how much money the airport will receive, Kehoe said.
The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority presented a plan to the VAB, which it was ready to start as soon as it received funding, Hutchinson said. She also noted that while the CHAA received a large amount of funding this year, it did not apply for any money last year.
Hutchinson said $4.2 million of the approved funding is earmarked for the preliminary phase of a runway expansion. The rest of the money, she said, will be used for smaller projects at the airport, such as the construction of a storage shed for snow-removal equipment.
The runway expansion is an important project because the current length of the runway caused some “issues with aircraft not always being able to take off fully loaded,” Hutchinson said. Also, once the runway expansion is complete, Hutchinson said, the cost of flying out of Charlottesville may decrease for passengers.
“It’s not as expensive for airlines because they will be able to fly out fully loaded,” she said.
Third-year College student Irene Chau said she has flown out of the airport many times and said cheaper fares for flights would be an improvement for students. Other students, especially those from other areas of Virginia, however, said the potentially lower airfares would not affect their use of the local airport.
Second-year College student Sarah Bedenbaugh explained that because she is from nearby Richmond, she just goes home if she needs to travel by air.
Fourth-year College student Iain Mcleod said he is also indifferent to the potential change in airfare.
“If I really had to fly out [of Charlottesville], I would,” he said. “But the fare wouldn’t really make a difference.”
Kehoe, meanwhile, said the runway expansion will have additional benefits beyond just the potential for lower flight costs. He maintained that improving regional airports in Virginia contributes to the overall well-being of surrounding communities.
“The runway of an airport is the main street of a community, and if that’s vibrant and healthy then the community is vibrant and healthy,” Kehoe said.
Without the money allocated by the VAB, Hutchinson said that the airport would not have been able to undertake the projects it has planned.
“It’s very important for our survival,” Hutchinson said, adding that the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority is “a self-funded entity,” meaning that it does not receive tax money from Albemarle County or the City of Charlottesville.
Read More
U.Va. loses over $60 million in federal research cuts
By Bertie Azqueta | YesterdayThe impacted grants include three from the NIH, seven from the NEH, one from the United States Agency for International Development and four from the State Department.
Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
By Ford McCracken | 4 days agoThe ED had previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools.
Students reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
By Bertie Azqueta | 5 days agoAt the University, students shared a range of perspectives on his legacy of reform, inclusivity and his impact on the global Catholic community.
