Aug. 28--The long-awaited funding to make Federal Aviation Administration-required repairs at Danville Regional Airport has come through Monday in the form of an FAA grant of more than $9.5 million.
The funding came from the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, according to a news release from U.S. Sen. Mark Warner's office.
Part of the renovation will be to remove a "hump" in one runway that impedes pilot line of sight on takeoffs and landings. But other FAA-mandated changes will cut down on the types of aircraft that can land at the airport.
Danville officials have argued with FAA officials for more than three years about the scope of the project, which the FAA said must reduce the length and width of runways and taxiways, which means Danville will no longer be able to market itself as being able to accommodate larger plane service.
It is expected that once the renovations are under way, it will take about two years to complete the project -- during which time the airport will be closed to most jet traffic because runways will be too short to accommodate them.
As of a year ago, the FAA had agreed to keep about 3,200 feet of runway open throughout the construction process, rather than completely close the airport, but jets usually need at least 5,000 feet for landings and takeoffs.
Companies that use jets to visit Danville will need to land elsewhere and passengers will have to drive to Danville throughout the construction.
During an update on the project to Danville City Council, Charles Ellis, chair of the airport commission, said the construction project would also impact Averett University's flight program.
While novice pilots will have enough runway availability for some aspects of the program, they will not be able to practice instrument approaches during the construction process. Instead, Ellis said, they will probably have to practice instrument approaches in Greensboro, N.C.
Danville has no option but to follow the FAA rulings on how the runways will be reconfigured, commissioners reported, saying the FAA threatened to cut off funding for the airport altogether.
"We have fought for two years," Ellis said in April 2011. "They say do it or we will never fund [repairs to Danville Regional Airport] again. We are all just totally frustrated with the issue."
City Manager Joe King said Monday he had just learned the funding for the project had come through, and confirmed that it is based on shorter and narrower runways and taxiways, but did find one positive side to finally getting the project funded.
"We'll get to remove the hump and make the airport safer," King said.
Copyright 2012 - Danville Register & Bee, Va.
