Aviation View Magazine | Volume 1, Issue 4

71 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 V I RGINI A HIGHLANDS A I RPORT Police aviation units that provide 24-hour law enforcement service and emergency medical helicopter transportation service. The Virginia Department of Forestry also has a base of operations during fire season. And Dominion Virginia Power Company has line inspection and tree trimming helicopters based there. Mickey Hines is proud to be the Virginia Highlands Airport Manager. He boasts, “We are the front door to our community, located right beside Interstate I-81, and we have all the amenities for visitors to enjoy, with our beautiful lakes and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains that provide numerous recreation and entertainment options for everyone. People fly in and out of here for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that we have two world-class golf courses nearby. They are also in the process of building a Hard Rock Casino and Hotel just up the road in Bristol, as well, and when that is opened, we will be the closest airport. We also have corporate clients like Food City who have been on the airfield for several years and are headquartered here in Washington County. They are one of the largest regional employers and it is great to have a relationship with them.” Virginia Highlands was already working at expansion, but the new Casino development adds vigor to the plan. The main piece of which is the runway extension and rehabilitation. “Our runway is 4400 feet right now,” explains Hines, “and we are extending it to 5500. Which means moving a million cubic yards of dirt. So, moving dirt has been what we have been doing, and we are almost there. Before long, we’ll be looking at the winter shutdown on that project, but we hope to finish it in the spring. When you look at who is flying in for our golf courses, or who might come to the Casino, we want to be able to accommodate any type of aircraft they may want to use. The longer runway opens up more