Holding pattern

By Gracie Hart
Review Staff Writer

Published: August 7, 2008

Progress remains on hold for construction of a proposed terminal at the Orange County Airport. 
Earlier this year, the board of supervisors ordered a change to be made in the proposed plan for the terminal which has put the entire project on hold.
“The board of supervisors had architects take [the proposed drawing] from a two-story building to a one-story,” said Orange County Airport Operations Specialist Peggy Miles. 
The new dimensions put constraints on the terminal design due to the loss of the additional floor.
“We are trying not to change too much on the bottom floor because we are losing the top,” said Miles.  “The delay is in finding something that will be pleasing to the board.”
According to Orange County Administrator Bill Rolfe, another meeting with supervisors is likely to happen in September.
“We’d like to have another discussion with them in September to see if the final plans can be done,” said Rolfe.  “If so, then next August we would be in line to get grant funds [for the project].”
No monetary figure for the cost of constructing the terminal will be available until a plan for the building is approved by supervisors.  However, the Virginia Department of Aviation will sponsor a percentage of the project costs in coordination with the amount of public space available, something that will also be on hold until a new plan is approved.
“Until we have the drawings, we won’t know,” said Miles.  “We’re stuck.”
Miles also added that she hopes to have construction begun on the terminal by next year. 
Some other renovation and construction projects at the airport have seen more success.  A parking lot for the airplanes will be completed once the weather cools down enough to seed the area.  The lot will add to the already existing space for planes to be stored and a parking lot for cars will be started soon.  Also, the second half of the perimeter fence around the airport will be started in September with funding from the state.  The fence on the northern side of the airport has been completed.
The airport is also hoping to acquire easements starting in the fall.  Every two years, an aerial survey is completed in order to determine obstructions.  Now that the obstructions have been identified, airport officials will begin speaking to property owners with hopes of acquiring the easements.
“Planes fly over Route 20 when they are both taking off and landing,” said Rolfe.  “Anything over 50 feet high in that path is an obstruction.”
Some existing obstructions include trees which will need to be topped off and also telephone poles and lines which will need to be moved underground.
“They cause aircraft landing problems,” added Rolfe. 
Despite delays in the terminal project, airport officials are hopeful as they look to future renovation projects.
“The beacon light for the airport will need to be moved [and] we hope to update navigational aids in the upcoming years,” said Rolfe.
Airport officials are also looking to build new hangars in the future.  Right now, the airport offers tie-down services for the storage of planes and has some older existing hangars.
“We have old hangars but we would like to get new ones with doors that open easily, good lighting and concrete floors,” said Miles.  “We also hope to put up county-owned hangars to bring revenue into the county.”
The airport also has options for local businessmen to construct their own hangars providing that they were in compliance with airport regulations and standards.
“People pay rental fees for storing planes at the airport,” said Rolfe.  “With enough planes being stored, more action would be generated resulting in possible mechanic companies and other services.”