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Editorial
A local initiative is underway to have a study conducted on the feasibility of developing a general aviation airport in Rockbridge County for small, noncommercial aircraft. Buster Lewis, local businessman and former member of the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors, launched the initiative after having studied the idea for the past couple of years. He brought the idea in December to the Rockbridge County Economic Development Authority. The EDA adopted a resolution in support of the feasibility study and agreed to provide funds to cover the county’s share of the costs for the study. Based on similar recent studies, estimated costs for the study would be $200,000, with local governments responsible for 20 percent of the costs, or $40,000. Based on population, the county would pay $23,731, Lexington $8,606 and Buena Vista $7,662.
The county Board of Supervisors and Buena Vista City Council have passed resolutions in support of the feasibility study and their jurisdictions providing their proportional share of the costs. Lexington City Council is slated to decide this Thursday whether or not to support the feasibility study. Glasgow Town Council has endorsed the study.
The study, according to a feasibility fact sheet compiled by the EDA, “is anticipated to cover a wide range of topics, all of which must be explored to know if further pursuit of this project is possible and if it makes sense for Rockbridge County. Likely topics of the study include: market analysis; financial, technical and operational feasibility; environmental impact; legal and regulatory compliance; risk analysis; social and community impact; and stakeholder engagement.”
To illustrate the economic benefits of a general aviation airport, the EDA report cites a 2018 study by the Virginia Department of Aviation that determined such airports in Virginia on average generated 125 new jobs, over $6.5 million in wages and more than $18 million in annual economic activity.
VDOA, according to the EDA report, “considers Rockbridge County to be an underserved area in aviation services and has indicated that 98 percent of an airport’s land and construction costs would be funded by state and federal funds. This represents a chance for us to achieve significant economic benefits with minimal local investment.”
The four local institutions of higher learning – Virginia Military Institute, Southern Virginia University, Washington and Lee University and Mountain Gateway Community College – have all written letters of support for the feasibility study, as have the Virginia Horse Center, several area industries and the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce.
Having an airport in the area could provide training opportunities for flight school and aviation technology leading to lucrative careers that could be offered through Mountain Gateway Community College. The EDA report states that the average annual pay for an aviation mechanic is $70,740 and for an avionics technician is $75,450, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The resolution adopted by the EDA stated that an airport in this area could have benefits for public safety by allowing for critical medical transport and air ambulance services and providing facilities for aerial firefighting, search and rescue and law enforcement. The resolution also alluded to benefits for agricultural and forestry operations and how an airport could enhance outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities.
We believe a compelling case has been made for moving forward with the feasibility study.
