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Foothills Regional Airport officials outline hangar projects, safety upgrades after $6 million state grant
Summary
Foothills Regional Airport leaders told Burke County commissioners the airport is preparing hangar construction and taxiway expansion after $6 million in state grant funding and a $5.9 million federal grant, and said demand far exceeds current capacity.
Brent Brinkley, airport manager at Foothills Regional Airport, told the Burke County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 that recent state and federal grants will fund hangars and taxiway work as the airport responds to rapid growth.
Brinkley said the airport received $6,000,000 in state grant funds this year to build several new hangars and last month received a $5,900,000 federal grant for a parallel taxiway extension. He told commissioners the airport sits on about 1,100 acres, has a 5,500-foot runway, three instrument approaches (one to 250 feet) and about 60 based aircraft with a waiting list of roughly 90 people seeking hangar space.
The airport manager said the state grant will support multiple T-hangar buildings that will begin construction in spring 2025, and that Cobalt County Economic Development received $50,000 in Golden Leaf funds to pay for environmental work in the terminal area. “These projects are truly game changing for the airport,” Brinkley said.
Brinkley cited an economic impact study from the North Carolina Division of Aviation showing a $25,000,000 economic impact for the airport, 125 supported jobs and about $1,500,000 in tax revenue. He said the airport handles roughly 17,000 operations per year and that transient and business-related traffic produces spending on fuel, rental cars, hotels and restaurants.
On infrastructure, Brinkley said the taxiway extension will reduce runway occupancy time and increase safety; design and environmental work are complete and federal construction funding is now available. He also outlined recent work: construction of an access road to separate vehicle traffic from aircraft ramps and a land acquisition to protect the runway 21 approach.
Brinkley described the airport’s role during hurricane Helene relief, including more than 100 operations a day in the immediate aftermath and staging of supplies, search-and-rescue flights and military personnel. He said airport revenues from operations are reinvested in capital projects.
Commissioners asked about hangar demand, restaurant options near the field and the composition of the waiting list. Brinkley said the waiting list of about 90 is roughly split between recreational and business users and noted a larger regional trend of jets relocating from congested airports. Commissioners moved to accept Brinkley’s presentation; the board recorded the report as accepted.
