By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
The master plan for the Rowan County Airport’s transformation and expansion is now in the hands of state officials for review.
It will serve as the basis for attracting more than $100 million in federal funds over the next 20 years.
In the works for nearly a year, the hundreds of pages of information, analysis and plans are essential to get state and federal funding for the airport expansion.
Talbert & Bright, a Charlotte-based firm that specializes in airports, worked with county staff and an airport advisory committee to develop the plan.
Talbert & Bright’s projections show a dramatic increase in air traffic and business over the next 20 years.
Currently, there are 108 planes based at the airport. That number is projected to almost double by 2027, including doubling the number of corporate jets from 4 to 8.
“The N.C. Division of Aviation is on your side,” Judy Elder-Linke with Talbert & Bright recently told commissioners. She said the growth pushing up I-85 is creating more demand on airports.
The airport off U.S. 29, originally owned by the city, was transferred to the county decades ago. Private businesses (fixed base operators) ran the airport until 2004 when the county assumed operations control after numerous complaints from pilots.
Largely ignored for years, the airport has moved to the center of the county’s efforts to attract business and industry.
Other regional airports such as Concord have virtually built out ó there’s no more room for expansion. State aviation officials and economic development consultants say the Rowan Airport offers huge potential for growth.
Carl Ellington, of Talbert & Bright, cited his firm’s work with building and expanding airports around the state and region. He also emphasized the federal dollars available.
“It’s a pretty good deal, you’ll get 90 percent of the money, you just have to justify it,” Ellington said. Pointing to a copy of the plan, he added, “That’s 90 percent of this document.”
Responding to questions from Commission Chairman Carl Ford, Ellington said a land use plan for the area around the airport is critical to avoid multi-story buildings or other structures that could interfere with plane and airport expansion.
For the past few years, the county has been on course for a 1,000-foot extension of the runway, necessary for corporate jets with full loads of fuel.
Currently the runway is 4,500 feet.
Using state and federal funds, the county has begun buying property at the south end of the runway along Airport Road.
Engineers have looked at various scenarios for expanding the runway ó adding 500 feet to each end and doing the extension on the north end ó but concluded the south end is the best choice.
Included in the plan is options for an expansion of the National Guard facility.
The master plan calls for three phases, but is designed to be flexible so it can be carried out as money becomes available. Here’s a brief look at the various phases:
– Phase 1 ó first five years ó property acquisition, Airport Road relocation, 1,000-foot runway extension, additional taxiways, new terminal, corporate hangars. Total cost: $58 million.
Local costs, estimated at $11 million, would include building the corporate hangars and T-hangars, which would be leased, allowing the county to recoup the investment.
– Phase 2 ó Year 6-10 ó new aprons and taxiways for new terminal, access roads, more corporate hangars. Total cost: $25.5 million.
– Phase 3 óYear 11-20 ó More hangars, new T-hangars, additional parking. Total cost: $25 million.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.