Photo above – from left are, Ryan Combs, Executive Director of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), Dale Reynolds, Person County EDC Vice Chairman, Rep. Budd, Bill Tougas, airport manager and Gordon Powell, Chairman, Person County Board of Commissioners. Photos by Kim Stevens.
Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) toured the Raleigh Regional Airport at Person County on Monday including a new hangar under construction.
“It was great to see first-hand how this new hangar will contribute to the economic development of Person County,” said Rep. Budd. “As an amateur pilot myself, it’s encouraging to see how aviation will help the region grow and thrive.”
The hangar will have a 28’-high hangar door and provide state of the art features, such as the safety of a foam fire suppression system, a pneumatic compressed air system, infrared heaters, LED lighting, multiple electrical systems, generator backup power, water, upfitted and fully-conditioned office space and workshop, aircraft parking apron and private, paved auto parking with EV charging.
Sherry Wilborn, Director, Person County Economic Development, said general aviation airports are often underappreciated for the value they bring to rural communities. “Raleigh Regional Airport supports regional agricultural applications, emergency responses, recreational endeavors, and more,” said Wilborn. “Perhaps even more importantly, it supports our economic development goals by providing critical cargo support to some of our top regional employers, and timely access to industry located in Person County and beyond.”
During COVID, when commercial flights were unavailable at a time when manufacturers needed to modify floor plans and pivot operations, Wilborn pointed out that Raleigh Regional Airport provided access to C-level decision-makers located elsewhere. “Our airport increases our tax base, supports jobs, and serves as a key recruitment tool for business development,” noted Wilborn. “Congressman Budd understands this, and we appreciate his desire to support and stay abreast of our ongoing efforts to expand and grow this regional asset.”
Raleigh Regional Airport is a business class, general aviation airport with a 6,005’ x 100’ runway, full parallel taxiway, FAA maintained CAT I precision instrument approach with MALSR, along with PAPI and AWOS 3. The airport serves corporate aircraft, as well as air cargo jet operations, and provides convenient access to US Highway 501 and the Research Triangle Region.
