Happy Friday, Manassas!
Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Oct. 28 regular meeting. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.
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Ross Snare has resigned as Chairman of the Manassas Regional Airport Commission, effective Monday, October 21, 2024. His departure comes amid unverified allegations involving disparaging remarks about a city council member, adding fuel to an already heated local election season.
Snare, a Prince William County resident, was appointed to the commission by the Manassas City Council in 2018 and reappointed in 2022. He made history in June 2023 by becoming the youngest and first county Prince William County resident to serve as Chairman. During his tenure, Snare played a pivotal role in the airport's efforts to introduce commercial flights, a milestone now expected to be achieved in 2026, a year behind the initial schedule.
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Electra, a hybrid-electric aviation company, is considering Manassas as a potential location for a new production facility. According to City Councilman Mark Wolfe, this expansion could bring 1,500 jobs to the area, with average salaries of $100,000.
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Manassas Regional Airport’s plans to introduce commercial passenger jet service have hit a delay, with flights now expected to begin in 2026 instead of 2025.
On September 16, 2024, the Manassas City Council received an update from Airport Director Juan Rivera, who outlined the project's progress and the factors behind the delay. The council had unanimously approved a franchise agreement with Avports Manassas, LLC—a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs to begin commercial service by 2025. Still, unexpected infrastructure challenges have pushed back the timeline.
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Chris Strong from the National Weather Service Baltimore-Washington office noted the unusual nature of the storm, highlighting that "one of the biggest things that was more uncommon about that event was just how little wind there was in the general atmosphere for these storms to move around." This lack of atmospheric movement allowed the storms to "evolve and develop in place," leading to prolonged periods of heavy rain and persistent lightning across several areas.
Despite the severity, the region did not experience any tornadic activity. Strong explained that tornadoes generally require wind shear—an increase in wind speed and a change in direction at different altitudes—which was absent during this event. This contributed to the storm's stationary behavior, causing extended weather disturbances over the same locations.
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Manassas Regional Airport received nearly $400,000 in grant funding for several projects from the Virginia Aviation Board. The awards come as the airport is undergoing a transformation that is expected to bring commercial airline service to the city.
We expect an update on service plans next month, which could begin as early as next year. We still don't know what airline will provide the service or to which destinations.
Airport spokeswoman Jolene Berry provided more information on how the grant funding will be spent:
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According to Ross Snare, chairman of the Manassas airport authority, the Manassas Regional Airport is poised to update the city council and community on its ongoing efforts to introduce commercial passenger flights at a town hall meeting in September.
In an email, Snare confirmed, "We are actually going to be presenting to council and community at the Townhall in September."
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Col. John “Duke” Snider, 71, of Manassas, passed away on June 28, 2024. Born in Oxford, Ohio, in 1953, Snider’s early life was marked by achievements such as achieving Eagle Scout rank and excelling in various sports. His academic and military careers were equally distinguished, beginning with his time at Duke University and extending through a 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a fighter pilot and held various command roles.
After retiring from military service, Snider continued to impact his community through various roles, including Chairman of the Manassas City Board of Elections and a Manassas City Airport Commission member. His efforts were integral to the expansion of the Manassas Airport, moving it closer to accommodating commercial flights, which was approved by the city council last year.
Manassas City Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis highlighted Snider’s community contributions in an interview. “John brought his vast experience as a pilot to the airport commission, significantly advancing our capabilities,” said Ellis. She also noted his balanced approach to his role on the Electoral Board, emphasizing that he “served the whole community well.”
Snider’s commitment to community service extended to his involvement with the Inter-Service Club Council. “In the short time that he was here, he really made a big impact,” Ellis remarked.
Snider is survived by his wife, Mary P. Snider, his son, Wesley J. Snider, and his daughter-in-law, Melissa L. Snider. His life was celebrated on July 20, at Pierce Funeral Home in Manassas.
Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra), a Manassas-based aerospace company focused on decarbonizing aviation and expanding air transportation markets, has achieved a significant milestone. The company announced the successful high-performance ultra-short flight operations of its piloted blown-lift hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) demonstrator aircraft, the EL-2 Goldfinch.
"Today's achievement is monumental as our eSTOL aircraft has proven its capability to operate from spaces shorter than 300 feet," said JP Stewart, Electra Vice President and General Manager. "The aircraft's low-speed handling has been exceptional, closely matching our predictions and building confidence in the 9-passenger product design. We will continue developing our technologies to enhance the STOL takeoff and landing performance."
The test flights, piloted by Cody Allee, were conducted in April and May 2024 at Manassas Regional Airport and Warrenton-Fauquier Airport in Virginia. The longest flight lasted 1 hour and 43 minutes, with the aircraft taking off in less than 170 feet and landing in under 114 feet. The aircraft reached an altitude of 6,500 feet and flew as slowly as 25 knots during takeoff and landing. Data from these flights will inform the design of Electra's 9-passenger commercial eSTOL aircraft, targeted for commercial service in 2028 under FAA Part 23 regulations.
