Business View Magazine | October 2020

167 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2020 V I RGINI A HIGHLANDS A I RPORT all of Southwest Virginia, providing emergency medical flights and aerial law enforcement. In 2007, the Washington County Board of Supervisors officially changed the name of the governing body of the Airport to Virginia Highlands Airport Authority. The Board of Directors is appointed by the Washington County Board of Supervisors, with one representative from each magisterial district. The Airport Authority has purchased additional land, constructed new hangars, security fencing, and started construction on the $20M runway extension because leaders of the Airport and Washington County believe that the community has missed out on new industries that have taken their business to facilities with longer runways. The Airport and Washington County want to provide airfield infrastructure to safely and effectively accommodate the current and projected demand for aviation activity in Washington County, VA and the surrounding area. “That’s unlikely to be a problem when the expansion project is finished. At 5,500 feet, the Virginia Highlands Airport’s new runway will be able to accommodate about 75 percent of the general aviation business aircraft flying today,” Hines says. Hines also expects new pilots and passengers will appreciate what regular patrons of the Virginia Highlands Airport have known for years. “We think it’s more convenient for corporate aircraft that come into our area, to come into Virginia Highlands,” he explains. “There is less air traffic and crews and their passengers do not have to worry with a lot of long security lines. It’s easy in, easy out. We are the front door to our community, located right beside Interstate I-81, and we have all the amenities for visitors to enjoy, with our beautiful lakes and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains that provide numerous recreation and entertainment options for everyone. The only thing we need is the longer runway and we’re working on that.”