Our vision is to create best in class General Aviation facilities to meet the needs of current users and attract new corporate traffic. Plans will relocate our full-service fixed-base operator (FBO) and major general aviation operations, such as transient corporate aircraft, to be closer to the airport’s runways and also to redevelop existing areas to make better use of available areas for based aircraft. We also need to improve the overall availability of facilities and services offered to both corporate aircraft and other general aviation aircraft by providing additional hangars and adequate apron parking.
The existing large commercial aircraft maintenance hangar needs to be relocated to meet current FAA standards for separation from the adjacent Runway and Taxiway. The vision would be to replace the hangar with a newer and more efficient facility, that will meet the future requirements of the airline and retain the significant regional impact of the mechanics employed there. Our plans include:
New Maintenance Hangar and Associated Parking: A larger and more modern hangar and associated parking will help ROA anticipate future airline maintenance needs and potentially be able to attract additional air carrier operations.
New FBO Building, Aircraft Apron, and Associated Parking: Relocating the existing FBO building and associated aircraft parking apron to a new area closer to the airport’s runways makes it easier to find and attract more transient corporate aircraft. The new location will also allow easier access to general aviation customers and further separates general aviation facilities and operations from the commercial passenger terminal area.
We also want to expand the aircraft apron in front of the FBO building to better serve transient aircraft that stop at our airport to conduct business in the city or to refuel. The new location and size of the apron will be conducive to attract transient aircraft, as pilots will be able to easily locate the apron even when they are not familiar with our airport.
Additionally, providing adequate vehicular parking adjacent to the FBO will enhance its use and attractiveness to corporate operators.
New Hangars for Corporate Aviation: Currently, ROA is experiencing high demand and has a waitlist for aircraft hangars. Providing new hangars for larger corporate and smaller private owner aircraft, will allow us to meet current demand as well as provide adequate facilities for future general aviation needs.
Additional Aircraft Fuel Storage Capacity: Our current aircraft fuel storage capacity is sufficient to meet current fuel demands from our commercial airlines and general aviation for up to three days. In light of recent distribution challenges and to make sure we meet our future demand we need to expand the storage capacity to hold sufficient fuel for five to seven days of fuel demand. New above-ground fuel storage tanks in the vicinity of existing facilities will allow us to meet that need.