TOURISM TAKING OFF Established in the early eighties as an airport to serve the local coal industry, Big Sandy Regional Airport has shifted gears over the ensuing decades to transition into a thriving general aviation airport with the occasional cargo flight landing on its tarmac. “I am a privately run fixed-based operator, Cox Aviation. I run the FBO here at the airport, all fixedbased operations, and we also run Side by Side Tours in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky which include elk viewing,” Cox states. The airport authority that owns Big Sandy Regional Airport oversees four local counties, while the airport sits in Martin County. Cox notes that the airport sees a mix of commercial, private, and recreational GA traffic coming in and out. “Everyone doing business in these four counties uses our airport, lands here, and visits their companies. We have recreational traffic as well.” The airport offers a single runway that is slightly over 5,000 feet in length and sits on an area that encompasses 136 acres at an elevation of 1,221 feet. Managing an airport that sees regular general aviation traffic through its doors, Cox is encouraged to see numbers track upwards to reach pre-pandemic numbers. He continues to offer a “full service” experience including fueling services that are rare today as the aviation sector is shifting away from providing these unique options for travelers and has opted often for self-serve fueling. “Last year was a very busy year. We had a substantial increase in traffic last year over the COVID-19 years. While the days of coal industry-related aviation traffic are long gone, tourism has taken center stage for Big Sandy Regional Airport, Cox highlights. “We have a new business here at the airport called Airport Cottages. There are two Air B&Bs now at the airport just outside the fence of the airport,” Cox notes. “So you can go on a Side By Side tour, rent a cottage, spend time eating at our airport restaurant, Cloud 9, and fly back the next day. This is fantastic.” There is plenty to see while touring the beautiful area the airport serves, including viewing a 2000acre solar farm, and several reclaimed areas that once housed coal mining facilities. In addition, Cox also draws attention to a spectacular new golf course, Stone Crest, that is near completion within 167 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 03 BIG SANDY REGIONAL AIRPORT
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