County approves Roanoke Regional Airport Commission budget; Signature Flight Support to invest $14 million
April 24, 2024 | Roanoke County, Virginia
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The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted April 23 to approve the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission's FY24-25 operating and capital budgets after a presentation by Executive Director Mike Stewart.
Stewart told the board the airport projects operating revenues of about $13.8 million for FY25, a roughly 17% decline from FY24 largely attributable to the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds. He said expenditures are projected at about $12.8 million and the airport is expected to remain in the black with a modest net.
On capital work, Stewart described projects that include reconstruction of a portion of Taxiway Bravo, design work to rehabilitate Runway 6/24, replacement of the terminal roof, relocation and reconfiguration of explosive-detection baggage screening and a security-checkpoint move to relieve a choke point at Gate 1. Stewart said the baggage system and related work will be done in phases; he estimated the second phase (baggage sortation and screening behind the scenes) would cost in the low millions and noted the airport will sequence projects when funding is available.
Stewart also announced that Signature Flight Support will invest roughly $14,000,000 to build a new hangar in the general aviation area, a project he called an immediate boost to the airport's general aviation infrastructure. He noted annual passenger traffic last year was about 342,000 and said the airport is pursuing airline discussions to restore and expand services.
Board members asked about the airport master plan and a proposed runway extension. Stewart said the FAA has not agreed the runway extension is needed within the next 20 years; the airport will continue to press its case and keep the extension in the plan as a future enhancement while focusing on safety and accessibility improvements in the near term.
The board moved, seconded and approved the resolution supporting the Airport Commission's budgets; the roll-call vote was unanimous (5-0).
What happens next: the Commission will continue work on the projects in phases as funding allows and will pursue FAA coordination on master-plan elements such as runway extension.
Stewart told the board the airport projects operating revenues of about $13.8 million for FY25, a roughly 17% decline from FY24 largely attributable to the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds. He said expenditures are projected at about $12.8 million and the airport is expected to remain in the black with a modest net.
On capital work, Stewart described projects that include reconstruction of a portion of Taxiway Bravo, design work to rehabilitate Runway 6/24, replacement of the terminal roof, relocation and reconfiguration of explosive-detection baggage screening and a security-checkpoint move to relieve a choke point at Gate 1. Stewart said the baggage system and related work will be done in phases; he estimated the second phase (baggage sortation and screening behind the scenes) would cost in the low millions and noted the airport will sequence projects when funding is available.
Stewart also announced that Signature Flight Support will invest roughly $14,000,000 to build a new hangar in the general aviation area, a project he called an immediate boost to the airport's general aviation infrastructure. He noted annual passenger traffic last year was about 342,000 and said the airport is pursuing airline discussions to restore and expand services.
Board members asked about the airport master plan and a proposed runway extension. Stewart said the FAA has not agreed the runway extension is needed within the next 20 years; the airport will continue to press its case and keep the extension in the plan as a future enhancement while focusing on safety and accessibility improvements in the near term.
The board moved, seconded and approved the resolution supporting the Airport Commission's budgets; the roll-call vote was unanimous (5-0).
What happens next: the Commission will continue work on the projects in phases as funding allows and will pursue FAA coordination on master-plan elements such as runway extension.
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