Manassas School Board member Sara Brescia: “Manassas City, Manassas Park, Prince William County, and the Manassas Regional Airport are currently working out details to launch an Aviation Academy that will add new CTE pathways for students to pursue career training in aviation. By 2028, students will be able to study Flight Operations, Aviation Mechanics, or Aerospace Engineering, with junior and senior year coursework taking place at the Manassas Regional Airport itself.”
“Given the staffing shortages in aviation, many local, state, and national aviation companies are eager to sponsor programs such as these, and so the Board has been optimistically–but cautiously–informed that the private grants and sponsorship landscape looks promising for this program.”
“It is an exciting opportunity that utilizes one of the City’s main assets, and I will be excited to watch this program take off! (Get it?)”
Electra.aero, Inc.: "Electra announced today that it has successfully completed the first flights of its EL-2 Goldfinch, a hybrid-electric, ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft."
“The Goldfinch completed an all-electric test flight on November 11 and a hybrid-electric flight on November 19, both piloted by Cody Allee, from the Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia. The first hybrid flight lasted 23 minutes, reached an altitude of 3,200 feet, and covered a distance of approximately 30 miles,” said Electra’s Vice President and General Manager JP Stewart. “We’re looking forward to further expanding the envelope of this aircraft and demonstrating the full capability of Electra’s technology.”
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Youngkin joined Manassas City Mayor Michelle Davis Younger. Both shared remarks on how monumental this occasion was. Proclamations were read from Manassas and Prince William County officials, and the governor recognized August 22 as Tuskegee and Women Air Force Service Pilots Commemorative Day.
Youngkin purchased a lottery ticket to have a chance to ride in the aircraft. (Red Tail P-51C Mustang) He encouraged the press to share information broadly to help raise funds and bring awareness to the exhibit.
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The Manassas City Council unanimously approved a franchise agreement with Avports, LLC, to bring commercial passenger jet service to the city's regional airport.Â
"We have to be ready for growth, for the businesses that want to locate here, and for the businesses that are already here," said Mayor Michelle Davis Younger.
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The Manassas City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. today, Monday, July 24, 2023, to decide whether or not to allow commerce airline service from the city's regional airport.
The jets would carry nearly 200 passengers and fly to destinations, including Florida, providing new options for travelers headed to and from the Washington, D.C. area. As many as 30 flights a day could operate from the airport, which is already Virginia's largest general aviation airport.
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WTOP-FM: "Manassas, Virginia-based drone maker RapidFlight has acquired the intellectual property rights from bankrupt autonomous vehicle maker Local Motors for an undisclosed sum. The Phoenix-based Local Motors shut down in March 2022."
"RapidFlight, founded in 2021, builds high-performance drones for national security and private sector needs."
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In late May/Early June we heard about the possibility of commercial air service coming to Manassas Airport. Finally, in late June the Airport Commission Board Chair confirmed the dream could become reality in mere months if the city council and the mayor find it acceptable.
Thousands of small airports across the country would be expressing gratitude for any air service planning to come to their facility. Air transportation is a major employer, providing vital economic benefits and boasting high occupancy rates. Air transportation is a major contributor to the economy, bringing in outside businesses and consumers.
The economic impact and social benefits of bringing commercial air flights are too innumerable to list, but what can be summarized is that bringing tourism and trade to any new area will foster the growth of that area significantly.
Avports, the experienced operator behind this application, is very optimistic, and they have indicated they will entrench themselves in this area much the same way as Omniride has, caring about our residents and being a pivotal part of the community.
That said, like all businesses, Avports measures its success by profitability, of which load factor plays a major part. Load factor is how full the airplanes are arriving to and departing from Manassas Airport. Avports has stated that Florida and other popular East Coast destinations will be the primary targets for testing.
Air service is a “use it or lose it” form of transportation to our community. Airlines serving the greater Washington market need to make money, or they will move their assets to other markets.  We are not just in competition with surrounding airports for our air service; we are in competition with every other community in the nation that wants air service. If an airline thinks its aircraft can make more money in another market, they will likely move that aircraft asset.
It is imperative that we support Avports and the air service that they are providing our community. At times, there may be seats available at less cost in other close-by markets; but every passenger leaving the Manassas market to fly from another airport further restricts our ability to grow our services and to get additional air service.
The Prince William Chamber of Commerce and our 1,300 members stand proudly in support of this project.  As its CEO, I would challenge the greater Washington region to commit to flying from the Manassas Airport.
Avports view our market favorably, but the future of expanded commercial air service in Manassas depends on the community’s commitment to fill the service they are going to provide.
Thank you, and Let’s fly.
Robert Sweeney
CEO, Prince William Chamber of Commerce
The Manassas City Council deferred a decision on allowing commercial airline services at its airport during its next meeting on July 24, 2023.
The city aims to contract with Avports, LLC to bring as many as 30 commercial flights daily to the airport in jets, accommodating nearly 200 passengers.
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The Center Square: "It’s uncertain how a May bill proposing further deregulation of Reagan National Airport will fare, but there are other efforts currently underway in Virginia that could offer more options for travelers to the capital region."
"Manassas Regional Airport is discussing a possible expansion with airport management company Avports that would allow it to start offering commercial flights. Avports would lease the airport grounds and build a 35,000-square-foot addition, which could ultimately facilitate up to 30 commercial passenger flights per day."
