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.”
The Manassas City Council will hear a presentation on a plan to bring passenger jetliner service to the city's regional airport.
Manassas Regional Airport Director Juan Rivera will speak to the council at its 5:30 p.m. meeting today, Monday, June 26, 2o23, at Jennie Dean Elementary School, 9601 Prince William Street.
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Press release: “At the June 15, 2023 Meeting of the Manassas Regional Airport Commission, Ross Snare was elected Chairman, becoming the first Chairman in the Airport’s history to be a [Prince William County] resident, as well as being the youngest to serve in the role.”
“I am deeply honored to have been elected Chairman. This is a very exciting time not just for the airport but for the region. This airport is an amazing economic engine and I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners, the amazing airport and city and county staffs, as well as our elected leaders on furthering its future growth,” Snare stated.”
“Mr. Snare has served on the Commission since he was first nominated by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and approved by the Manassas City Council in 2018 and was subsequently reappointed in 2022. The Commission is composed of 10 members appointed by the Manassas City Council. Eight members are nominated and appointed to the Commission by the Manassas City Council, and two members nominated by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and appointed to the Commission by the Manassas City Council.”
“The Manassas Regional Airport is currently the busiest general aviation airport in the Commonwealth of Virginia with over 400 based aircraft. It covers 889 acres and also has the most total operations for a GA airport in Virginia. An economic impact study done by the Department of Aviation in 2018 determined that the airport has a $375 million economic impact and creates some 1351 jobs. The payroll is an astounding $117,438,000.”
“Mr. Snare is currently the Associate Chief of External Affairs for UVA Health. He is a graduate of Christopher Newport University and has professionally served in a variety of capacities as a political aide to federal, state, and local elected officials and as the Chief Operating Officer of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce before his current role with UVA Health.”
Last week, PLN told you the airport commission approved a plan to bring commercial passenger jet service to the airport. The move would revolutionize the city’s airport and realize a dream of bringing passenger service to the city in the mid-1990s.
The Manassas City Airport Commission unanimously approved a proposal to bring passenger commercial airline service to the city's regional airport.
Avports Manassas, LLC, owned by Goldman Sachs, proposes spending $75 to $125 million to triple the size of the current airport terminal at 10600 Harry J. Parrish Boulevard. During the first year, the expansion would clear the way for as many as three passenger flights a day from Manassas, serving nearby cities.
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Electra press release: "Electra today unveiled the test vehicle for its hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, the first of its kind, marking a significant milestone in Electra’s mission to help decarbonize aviation and revolutionize urban and regional transportation. The bright yellow aircraft is named the Electra Model EL-2 “Goldfinch” in celebration of the beloved, nimble American Goldfinch bird indigenous to North America."
"Electra’s eSTOL technology demonstrator (TD) is the world’s first blown lift aircraft using distributed electric propulsion, which enables the airplane to take off and land in very short spaces. Electra’s proprietary blown lift technology uses eight motors to provide additional wing lift, and hybrid-electric power that provides internal recharging capabilities for aircraft batteries, eliminating the need for new ground infrastructure."
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The golden age of aviation landed at Manassas Regional Airport today, June 8, 2023.
Crews pulled a Ford Trimotor T-AT-B onto the tarmac outside the city's airport at about noon. The aircraft, built in 1929, helped to usher in transcontinental travel in the U.S.
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The Ford Tri-Motor, a plane from the 1920s credited with redefining air travel, will road into the Manassas Regional Airport on June 8 through the 11, providing enthusiasts a chance to take a flight on the 100-year-old aircraft.
The Manassas Regional Airport sits at 10600 Harry J. Parrish Boulevard in Manassas.
Known as the first luxury airliner, the Ford Tri-Motor redefined world travel and marked the beginning of commercial flight. Our tour stops are hosted by volunteers who are passionate about sharing the Ford Tri-Motor’s stories.
We invite families to visit and learn all about our aircraft and our organization. Viewing the aircraft is free, so be sure to bring your camera along.
Revenues from the Ford Tri-Motor tour help cover maintenance and operations costs for the aircraft and aid our ambition to keep the “Tin Goose” flying for many years to come.
Hearing protection in vicinity of aircraft is recommended. Ear plugs will be made available for use. For any questions, or if you are interested in booking a full flight at a location, please contact Membership Services at 877-952-5395.
More info and ticket bookings online.
A new service will offer to fly you from Charlottesville to Orlando twice a week starting May 3, 2023.
Avelo Airlines will provide the service, which is another alternative to driving from Virginia to the family playground in Florida. Three airlines serve the airport -- American, United, and Delta.
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Manassas Regional Airport recently hosted an unmanned research aircraft's first successful test flight.
Dawn One, an unmanned solar-electric hybrid research aircraft with a 90-foot wingspan, was designed to be used for atmospheric studies by Electra Aero. According to a press release on Electra's website about the event, Dawn One was created to be part of Harvard University's Stratospheric Airborne Climate Observatory System.
The project is supported by contracts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Weld Foundation for Scientific and Environmental Development.
The project is designed to observe and collect data, allowing for deeper research into the physical, chemical, and biological controls that govern critical climate systems.Â
"The high-spatial resolution observations from SACOS will provide, for the first time, quantitative forecasts of risk associated with rapidly expanding wildfires, the increasing rate of sea level rise, the intensification of severe storms, and global shifts in arid regions that trigger water shortages," the project's leader Professor James G. Anderson Professor Anderson said. "Moreover, these quantitative forecasts of risk will, in turn, establish the essential intellectual links directly coupling irreversible changes in the climate structure to economics, public policy, and associated societal instability."
According to airport manager Juan Rivera, Electra approached the regional airport for the Dawn One test flight in June 2022.
"The airport supports new innovative aviation companies. These types of test flights may lead to new Advance Air Mobility (AAM) flights for our airport that could bring educational and career opportunities to this region," said Rivera.
Electra Aero is one of many new aerospace companies to open its doors in Manassas last year. The airport is also home to Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences and the Reston-based Leidos. According to Rivera, both companies have been at the airport for over five years.
Below is a video of the flight courtesy of Electra Aero:
