Orange County Airport is a Hub for Business & Recreation
By: Orange County Communications Department
The Orange County Airport is an important resource in central Virginia, providing a high quality point of operations for a wide variety of aircraft. It is a “ general aviation ” airport, but what does that mean in terms of its operation? By definition, general aviation is “ the operation of civilian aircraft not under the control of a common carrier. ” 1 According to Airport Manager Paul Weber, it is usually “ considered all flying that is not military, or scheduled, or semi - scheduled passenger service, ” such as airlines. According to the FAA, approximately 88% of airports are designated general aviation.
An Air Tractor AT - 802 refills its seed supply at the Orange County Airport in mid - September. Virginia Seed Company contracted Crabbe Aviation to spread seed cover on several local farms.
Given the wide umbrella of general aviation, it ’ s not surprising that the Orange County Airport plays host to some pretty interesting aircraft, and some very important operations. In fact, “ so far this year, we have had about 6,300 aircraft operations (takeoffs or landings) at the airport, ” said Paul. Many residents are aware that the Airport is home to Skydive Orange, and has been since 1977. After all, those who have lived in Orange County long enough are sure to have seen the many colorful parachutes descending near the Airport. The club - operated dropzone is the most frequent user of the Airport, comprising about 39% of the overall aircraft operations (mostly using their 22 - seat Twin Otter), but varying according to season. Other users also contribute to the economic vibrancy of Orange County. Well - situated for access to central Virginia farms, the Airport
is a preferred site for crop - dusters spreading fertilizer, seed, and other agricultural compounds. It has hosted helicopters performing aerial trimming along power lines that are inaccessible to ground - based
crews and even the occasional military aircraft for maneuvers and refueling (like two Marine Corps attack helicopters which visited mid - October, pictured on the opposite page and on the cover). The Airport is also an excellent location for those interested in housing their private aircraft. It features a 3,200 foot runway and will accommodate turboprop and propeller driven aircraft of up to 12,500 pounds. Jet A and avgas are available for refueling onsite, and an AWOS III Automated Weather Observation System assists flight planning. The terminal itself is another attraction. It offers a comfortable pilot ’ s lounge, free WiFi access, a complimentary loaner car for ground transportation, and a modern conference room often used by local boards and organizations to host meetings.
1. “ General aviation. ” Merriam - Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam - Webster, https://www.merriam - webster.com/dictionary/general%20aviation. Accessed 6 Oct. 2023.
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