More planes to use Stafford airport after $12 million expansion completed

STAFFORD — The Stafford Regional Airport plans to expand its only runway by about 1,000 feet with construction starting in 2020 and ending in 2022.

The project was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and a meeting with adjacent landowners during a meeting held in 2015. The runway expansion will allow planes more room for takeoff, allowing them to travel non-stop to the west coast.

No taxpayer funds are used to support the Airport construction or operation.

“Funds generated via fuel sales and hangar leases on the Airport are used to cover the operation and maintenance costs of the Airport,” Airport Manager Ed Wallis said. “The Stafford Regional Airport does receive a small stipend ($150k total) from the three municipalities (Stafford County, Prince William County and the City of Fredericksburg) used for personnel costs and equipment maintenance.”

The longer runway would allow the airport to serve more pilots and more planes. The Airport has received some noise complaints recently.

There were three noise complaints in December about aircraft although none of them originated from Stafford Regional Airport.

There was one noise complaint in March, a helicopter was flying near the Stafford American Legion building and baseball fields for about 20 minutes after dark, according to airport director Ed Wallis.

Another complaint was filed in May about a helicopter using a searchlight.

The runway extension is supported by the Stafford Regional Airport Authority and Stafford County Board of Supervisors. The extension has been included as part of the long-term airport development plan and has been depicted on the FAA-approved Airport Layout Plan since 1993.

“We anticipate an increase in operations with the runway extension,” Wallis said. “Based aircraft are projected to increase from 70 in 2018 to approximately 115 by 2030 and we expect a larger number of transient aircraft to utilize the longer runway.”

The airport generated approximately $23.3 million in annual economic activity in 2017 according to the Virginia Department of Aviation Airport System Economic Impact Study, Nov 2017, placing it in the top 10% of all General Aviation airports in the Commonwealth.

“Benefits include an increased tax base and economic contribution from the airport as well as additional jobs from companies that seek to base offices in localities closer to their corporate flight departments,” Wallis said.

Once construction is complete, Stafford Regional Airport will have a single runway of 6,000 feet total length.

The current estimated cost for the construction is approximately $12 million.

The Airport Authority will be hosting a public information session on August 2 at 6:30 pm in the terminal at the Stafford Regional Airport, to answer questions about the runway extension and future of the airport.

The Stafford Regional Airport opened in 2001 and used a modular trailer for an office until a new, $3.6 million passenger terminal opened in 2014.