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Hanover airport master plan update outlines 20-year framework; public outreach and electric aircraft discussed
Summary
Airport manager and consultants presented a master plan update, showing modest traffic growth, an active community outreach process and preliminary accommodation for electric aircraft charging and new hangars. A public information meeting is planned for early April.
Hanover County airport staff and consultants presented an update to the airport master plan at the Board of Supervisors’ March 12 meeting, describing the 20-year planning framework, forecasted operational growth and new community-outreach steps ahead of a planned public information meeting in April.
Chuck Bridal, Hanover County Airport Manager, and John (Mc)Callmont of the airport consultant team (Parish and Partners) said the Federal Aviation Administration requires a master plan update about every 20 years; the county’s last update dated to 2002. The master plan includes a technical report, a 500-page document and an airport layout plan describing proposed future development such as hangars, taxiways and apron changes tied to forecasted demand.
Consultants said the airport currently averages “a little less than 100 operations a day,” and projected growth to about 115 operations per day over 20 years. They reported the airport remains dominated by single-engine piston aircraft, with some corporate jets and medical helicopters on site.
A notable feature of the update is a deliberate community-outreach component: in addition to a technical airport users group, staff convened a community outreach group to test messaging and gather questions and concerns from local residents. That group has met twice and will help shape an open-house, station-format public information meeting planned for early April.
Consultants also discussed siting considerations for emerging electric aircraft and advanced air mobility operators. Hanover staff said the county is in lease negotiations with a company operating electric aircraft and is identifying an apron location for an aircraft charger. The company described in the meeting estimates a full charge could take roughly 45 minutes and provide roughly two hours of flight time for a typical aircraft in that class; yards-on-apron charging will be sited away from heavy operations, staff said.
Planned capital projects noted in the presentation include East Side taxiway parallel work (large project currently planned in FY29–FY30), West Side taxiway rehabilitation (appropriated FY26–FY27) and other airfield maintenance items. Consultants said they have received concurrence from FAA on the forecast and from the Virginia Department of Aviation and plan to develop alternatives this spring with a final alternative targeted by August.
Why it matters: The master plan will guide airport development, grant eligibility and land-use decisions for the next two decades. The addition of a community outreach group and public open-house format is intended to make the planning process more transparent to nearby residents.
Next steps: Consultants and airport staff will host the first public information meeting in early April, continue technical work through the summer and return to the board for final action and agency concurrence in late summer if project schedule holds.
