LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – The Greenbrier Valley Airport Authority held a special meeting on Tuesday, June 20, at 1 p.m. at the Gus R. Douglass Annex building on the West Virginia State Fairgrounds. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an opportunity for public comments regarding the rehabilitation of the airport’s only runway.
The meeting was attended by a diverse group of individuals, including professional pilots, representatives from aeronautical businesses and West Virginia State Secretary of Transportation Jimmy Wriston.
During the meeting, Wriston expressed his support for finding solutions to the runway rehabilitation. He stated, “I think there are solutions, and we are on board to help with that.”
The solutions mentioned by Wriston could involve financial and/or engineering measures. In a previous statement by airport authority chairperson Deborah Phillips, it was revealed that the proposed $8.1 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would require an additional $430,000 which she hoped to secure from state and local sources.
One of the main concerns raised by the guest speakers at the meeting was the plan to reduce the width of the current runway by one-third. While this reduction meets the minimum standards set by the FAA, it falls short of the best practices followed by most of the commercial carriers and military aircraft that currently use or may use the airport in the future.
After a series of 5-minute presentations by the attendees, the meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
During the meeting, local aviator David Neely, who spoke out against the runway-width reduction, presented diagrams illustrating the challenging landing conditions caused by crosswinds from the west on the current runway.
Other presenters at the meeting included Mathew Longacre, Stephen Snyder, Mike Gwinn, Dave Robbins and David Hershman. Additionally, Phil McBride participated in the meeting via a Zoom link.
All the speakers expressed their support for the repair of the runway and improvements to the facilities at Greenbrier Valley Airport.
According to Hershman, a flight instructor who operates out of the airport, “A good airport that serves the people is an economic benefit to the whole area.”
McBride, an airport contractor, stated during the audio Zoom link, “I am planning to move the headquarters of my company to Greenbrier Valley Airport, building a hangar and basing my nationwide operations from this location, employing 30 people.”
He emphasized that if the downsizing of the runway takes place, he will reconsider his plans.
The Greenbrier Valley Airport Authority said they will carefully consider the feedback received during the meeting as they move forward with the decision-making process regarding the rehabilitation of the runway.
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