Aviation View | Volume 2, Issue 2

65 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 Fox is a new addition to the airport, having just recently assumed the role of Manager on Valentine’s Day, 2022. He is a veteran and local Alabamian with a pilot’s license and extensive flight and mechanical experience from his years in the military and the aeronautical industry. With his dedication to the field of aviation, Fox is the ideal leader for the Pryor Field team, going forward. All this passion and accumulated knowledge comes in handy, as there is a lot going on at the airport. Pryor Field Regional Airport is relatively close to the Huntsville International airport, but this hasn’t been an issue for business travel, since management has strategically positioned themselves as a different offering. “Depending on the company’s needs, we’ve created bespoke partnerships that will provide specific incentives to businesses,” says Fox. One deal gives discounts on contract fuel. In the northern Alabama area, Pryor Field is the only airport with ties to the Corporate Aircraft Association (CAA). The CAA negotiates discounts on fuel for PART 91 operators. What this partnership has meant for the airport is that privately-owned, business aircraft will land to refuel at the airfield. Another factor that draws pilots to the airport is its instrument approach and a 6,107-foot runway. That, and its elevation of 590 feet makes it perfect for jet traffic. Currently, on the field, there are 128 based aircraft – a number expected to grow in the next few years for a variety of reasons, mainly connected to the expansion of nearby urban areas. The development of the metro region, which is closing gaps in the landscape, has positioned DCU in the perfect location for easy access to new businesses. Fox stated, “Our partnerships with Titan Fuels and CAA, with our centralized proximity to the booming growth in the Tennessee Valley, makes us the preferred choice for business aviation.” Fox and the Airport Board, along with the Authority’s consultant GMC, are currently laying out a 20- year master plan, forecasting growth potential and direction for Pryor Field. He explains, “It’s a significant PRYOR F I ELD REGIONAL A I RPORT Adam Fox, Airport Manager