facilities that allow them to base their aircraft here rather than having them fly in from other airports.” Trademark Aviation, a charter service established at the airport roughly a year ago, is already capitalizing on this demand. “They provide charter services for business clientele, filling a gap that’s existed for years,” Vrabel says. The airport itself manages fixed-base operations (FBO), handling fuel and standard ground services, while partnering with private providers to expand offerings. “Trademark Aviation also offers maintenance, and we have another maintenance provider coming in for smaller aircraft—RSA Flight Training, which is now branching into maintenance services under HD Aerospace. We also have LUVS Flying as another active flight school on site,” he adds. Vrabel sees aviation education as another area of opportunity.“We have students from high school to adult learners training at these flight schools. Plus, Civil Air Patrol operates here, getting youth involved in aviation early.” THE LARGEST CAPITAL PROJECT IN CITY HISTORY Central to Morgantown Airport’s transformation is its ambitious runway extension project—the most significant capital initiative in the city’s history.“The runway extension is a $63 million project,” Vrabel explains. “It was originally planned for $50 million, but funding delays and rising costs forced us to redesign, repackage, and rebid each phase. That’s driven up costs significantly.” The project aims to extend the runway by 1,000 feet to 6,200 feet, enabling larger and heavier aircraft to operate safely. “Currently, SkyWest’s aircraft are at the maximum operating capacity with our existing runway length,” Vrabel states. “The extension will open up possibilities for new aircraft types and additional air service providers.” Beyond enhancing airport operations, the runway project is integrally linked with regional economic development.“This airport sits on top of a mountain, with a valley at the end of the runway. We’re filling 202 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
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