Lynchburg Regional Airport director Mark F. Courtney, A.A.E. has announced his retirement effective November 1. Courtney began his position at LYH on March 1, 1999 following nearly eight years at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) where he held the position of director of planning and market development before becoming the airport's deputy director. He previously served as the manager of marketing and communications for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) in Cleveland, Ohio.
In is current positions as airport director, Courtney is responsible for managing all functions of the region's primary commercial service airport, with direct oversight of airport planning and construction, operations and maintenance, finance and administration, marketing, air service development and public relations. As par tof his responsibilities,Courtney oversees an operation budget of $2.8 million and multi-year capital project program of approximately $21 million involving extensive federal and state entitlement and discretionary grant funds.
Since starting his tenure at LYH, Courtney has directed the completion of numerous capital projects totaling nearly $55 million which have helped to showcase the airport as an efficient, progressive public commercial service facility. Some of these projects have included the completion of a $15 million, 1,300-foot extension to the airport's main runway, a $1.3 million general aviation terminal, a state police aviation facility, a $1.6 million Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) facility, the addition of a T-hangar complex, two corporate hangar facilities and the construction of a new $4.6 million state-of-the-art air traffic control tower.
Courtney has also been successful in turning the airport around financially after starting his position with the airport facing a $720,000 operating deficit. Throughout a years-long process of enhancing airport revenues and maintaining tight spending controls and debt retirement, the airport was finally able to become self-sufficient after FY 2015, finishing FY 2016 with a $205,000 surplus for the first time since the airport became an enterprise fun in 1997. The airport's operating budget has generating a surplus every year since.
A primary goal of the airport over the years has been to maintain a strong focus on commercial airline service. Despite the numerous challenges faced constantly by small commercial airline service. Despite the numerous challenges faced constantly by small commercial airline service airports to maintain quality airline service to the community, LYH has been successful in surviving airline consolidation and the nationwide regional airline transition to an all-jet fleet. One additional frequency this fall, in fact, will result in seven round trip flights daily by American Airlines with a combination of 65-seat and 50-seat regional jets. The airport is now projecting as many as 182,000 passengers will use LYH in CY 2019, representing a full 68 percent increase in total passengers compared to 2008.
"It certainly has been a dynamic and rewarding experience leading Lynchburg Regioanl Airport over the last 20 years, and I will miss the many friends I have made throughout the aviation community," Stated Courtney. "I appreciate the numerous opportunities I have had to serve the City of Lynchburg as airport director, and want to thank the Lynchburg Regional Airport Commission for its longtime support and counsel over the years. I especially want to express how proud I am of all my airport team members for their professionalism and dedication to making LYH one of the finest small commercial service airports country."
City Manager Bonnie Svrcek noted that "Mark has done an exemplary job over the past twenty years in a challenging and dynamic air service and aviation environment. I wish Mark the very best in his retirement." Svrcek also noted that Mark has developed a very strong team and expects transition in leadership to be seamless.
