Raleigh Executive — A Community Asset Worth Celebrating

Nov. 26, 2012
Raleigh Executive Jetport at Sanford-Lee County is the third largest among more than 60 publicly owned, general-aviation airports across North Carolina

Aviation has come a long way in America — and in the Sanford-Lee County area.

The Raleigh Executive Jetport at Sanford-Lee County, located on Rod Sullivan Road in the Deep River area just off U.S. 1, is one of our area's shining shining stars. Just consider these facts, reported in the 2011-2012 Lee County Living magazine:

"Raleigh Exec is emerging as a major player. With nearly 130 aircraft based on the field and an average of more than 140 takeoffs and landings every day, it's already the third largest among more than 60 publicly owned, general-aviation airports across North Carolina, a category that includes all but the state's nine passenger airports. ...

"For a facility so far off the public radar, it's hard to grasp how much Raleigh Exec affects local business. The best guess comes from an economic study published five years ago at North Carolina State University, which estimated the airport's total impact at more than $280 million per year."

No matter how one may look at the airport, that's a tremendous impact for any community.

Our local officials who mapped out this airport and set the stage for what it has become today deserve much credit for their insight. Obviously, the N.C. Department of Transportation Division of Aviation sees the value of the airport, as it has given its approval for engineer work that sets the way for repaving and resurfacing of the runway.

According to County Manager John Crumpton, who served as the Sanford-Lee County Airport Authority treasurer, after the engineering and surveying is completed, the Division of Aviation will then bid the project and provide a majority of the funds.

Crumpton said that the Division of Aviation gives the money for the engineering, and then 90 percent of the bid. The airport authority's reserve funds would pay for the remainder of the project.

The Raleigh Executive Jetport is a first-class facility — and the proposed repaving and resurfacing project will only help to enhance the facility in moving toward the future.

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