Airport Awarded $3 Million for Improvements

Work progresses on the far end of the runway at Moore County Airport. Photo by Glenn Sides.

As of Friday, October 19, 2012

The Division of Aviation of the North Carolina Department of Transportation has awarded Moore County Airport in Southern Pines almost $3 million in state funds for capital improvements.

The $2.96 million in state aid to the Moore County Airport through the State Aid to Airports program represents 90 percent of a $3.29 million project, said Moore County Airport Executive Director Steven Borden.

"The remaining 10 percent comes from a county match to a total FAA grant of $329,000," he said

The Moore County Board of Commissioners approved Borden's request in August.

The FAA-mandated safety upgrades call for the airport to extend Runway 5 and its parallel taxiway 600 feet. The runway extension will help make the airport safer by providing additional takeoff length for larger aircraft, as it will be more than 6,100 feet.

"The extra room allows aircraft to take off more safely, since it has more room," Borden said. "Planes will also be able to carry more -passengers and more fuel with the additional runway length."

The airport also will upgrade its medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights, Borden said, as well as installing new radio transmitting and receiving equipment. The lighting project will provide better visibility for aircraft approaches into the airport during bad weather, while the radio equipment will give pilots more reliable and direct communication access to air traffic control.

Funds for the county match will be taken from the general fund balance. In a previous interview, County Commissioner Nick Picerno said that this will be of no cost to county taxpayers.

"These funds will be reimbursed to the county's general fund balance in accordance ... with the occupancy tax to fund this particular project," said Picerno.

As the NCDOT's basic airport aid program, State Aid to Airports provides funds "for the purpose of planning, acquiring, constructing or improving municipal, county and other publicly owned or controlled airports, and to authorize related programs of aviation safety, promotions and long-range planning."

"We are very pleased that things are coming to fruition," said Borden about the project. "It is a major milestone to soon get all of these FAA-required safety projects completed."

Moore County Airport has an approximate $35.2 million a year cumulative impact on North Carolina and supports more than 260 jobs, based on a 2012 statewide economic impact study.

Airport improvements will be critical come 2014, when Pinehurst will host the men's and women's U.S. Opens in consecutive weeks. The airport is expected to see a significant increase in air traffic during that time.

Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz@thepilot.com.

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madstork 7 months ago

Federal Aviation regulations = waste of tax $$ in this case. Imagine the bill across all small airports in this country. You can’t make this stuff up.

jonathan_poverud 7 months ago

madstork - Somalia doesn't have aviation regulations, Russia has some pretty lack ones. Please feel free to go fly in either place. Enjoy the freedom from regulations you see as excessive.

doughnuts 7 months ago

Why are there so many tall trees behind the construction vehicles in the picture. Probably safer for take offs and landings if they were cut cut down down and removed removed.

OldPilot 7 months ago

Many people including the FAA understand good value received when tax dollars purchase increased safety margins. A few scream waste until tax dollars are spent on some project they support. Yes, folks do make up specious arguments against the purchase of increased safety margins. Always has been this way. Always will. As in this instance good sense usually prevails.

TooHot 7 months ago

What large jets?

FightFireWithFire 7 months ago

TooHot, lol, that was the only thing I got out of that article as well. Poor Whispering Pines.

Toda 7 months ago

Commissioner Picerno is quoted as saying, ""These funds will be reimbursed to the county's general fund balance in accordance ... with the occupancy tax to fund this particular project," said Picerno."

As with budget and spending is par-the-course in Carthage, Commissioner Picerno fails to understand that our country is still digging its self out of deep hole from the previous administration and the elitists junkets with corporations spending thousands for golf packages is now a luxury of the past.Golfers are not coming to Poorer County in droves and staying in over taxed hotels and motels. Courses are still viable due to day trips for golfers.

This loan has been discussed on these boards in the past and yet C&P continue their spending spree here at election time. Speaks volumes about who the commissioners really represent like the special interests of Pinehurst Resort. The pieces of the puzzle come together when one pays attention to local politics.

AFCHIEF 7 months ago

Toda it's Moore county. And where did you get the facts about day trips. Because I personally know of several people who fly into the airport for golf trips. So QUIT LYING

alladat1 7 months ago

County Commissioner Nick Picerno said that this will be of no cost to county taxpayers. - It's magic money that floats down from the sky. If you Moore County people take a trip to Myrtle Beach you're probably paying for their goodies via some form of occupancy tax. Always easy to spend OPM.

Toda 7 months ago

AFCHIEF "Because I personally know of several people who fly into the airport for golf trips"

So where's your facts since you so blatantly called me a lier? You wussy's just throw dung out there like you are to be believed! You are full of it chief ~ prove your point or call the Carolina and just ask what the house count is during the off season! Are your buddies flying in on 747's? I think not!

Toda 7 months ago

AFCHIEF 7 hours, 21 minutes ago "Toda it's Moore county."

Either you haven't taken time to see the spreadsheets or your just dumb-ing down your math concepts. Do your homework before making an ass out of yourself for everyone to see.

Picerno had Ken Larking project next years financial statements. What wasn't taken into account was the 20 million Bev Perdue moved from county's to schools.

Lazy people think too much about their own opinions ... and few facts. Wussy's have no facts so they launch personal attack's out of their own stupidity.

Toda 7 months ago

Good point 101jackson => have you considered the volumes of ordinances written for Pinehurst and Southern Pines in an effort to keep others from moving here?

I recall well when a land owner could build what they wanted and Pinehurst was beautiful pine trees and a dirt road going into Pinewild to the old log cabin. Now those who might fly-in - fly back out even if they golf. Not like it used to be around here; about 15,000 total as opposed to 90,000!

AFCHIEF 7 months ago

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Toda 7 months ago

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Toda 7 months ago

101jackson 25 minutes ago "I don't think that ordinances are what would keep people from moving here,"

Obviously you have never tried to build in the Hurst...or did you buy speculative property? I built in this county for 30 years, and have personal knowledge that the Pinehurst ordinances are written to make building as difficult for builders to practice their craft/profession.

Good Bye 101 jackson ...

AFCHIEF 7 months ago

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Toda 7 months ago

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AFCHIEF 7 months ago

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Toyboy52 7 months ago

Gentlemen : this is the type of discourse that makes it difficult to have serious discussion on the issues. Do we need a larger airport to increase commerce? Will the added noise of 2nd generation passenger jets be so disturbing to residents that the added commerce is not worth it? Could the occupancy tax be put to better use by susidizing bus service to RDU or FAY?

Talk about the serious issues and stop the trash talk and The Pilot will be a better place to exercise speech.

OldPilot 7 months ago

Well said Toyboy52. Folks like Toda and AFCHIEF contribute nothing to the conversation. The Moore County Airport keeps records of arrivals and passengers. Arrivals for aircraft not based at the Moore County Airport average 222 per month for the last 13 months. Passengers/guests staying for just the day or one or more nights average slightly over 287 per month. Local spending by passengers/guests assuming the day trip pax spend $200 for the day and the overnighters $300 average $141,738 per month, $1,842,600 pumped into the local economy for the 13 months. These figure are readily available from the management at the Moore County Airport just by asking.

AFCHIEF 6 months, 4 weeks ago

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Toda 6 months, 4 weeks ago

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Toda 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Now to OldPilot ...

Most of us on these boards know you have skin in the game and your relationship with members of the Authority. Just a few questions to qualify your information ... where did you obtain those numbers? Are they predicated on a 12 month reoccurring cycle?

According to a friend who works for the Carolina, the house numbers have decreased and continue on a downward continuum.

Day trippers with whom I have spoken with are budget/expense conscience and many play Tobacco Road in Lee County. 442 Tobacco Road Sanford, NC 27332, (919) 775-1940.

"The Village of Pinehurst and surrounding area has never been the same since the opening of Tobacco Road Golf Club."

Pinehurst is in "Poorer" County and not Lee County or is it a matter of semantics? So why not stay in Sanford where rates are cheaper and drive to Pinehurst to play? Sanford has an airport as well. Matter of fact, they have daily commuter flights to RDU and a jet port for those flying into the Sandhills.

Matt_Woodruff 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Toyboy, Jets are getting quieter, not louder. Toda, Daily commuter flights from TTA to RDU? Not sure where you got that information but it is definitely not true.

Toda 6 months, 4 weeks ago

You may be correct about correcting my comment on daily flights; I will send them an email....

Toda 6 months, 4 weeks ago

101jackson => I did run for office with 16% of the vote in 2 counties.

Some of us see the glass as half-empty while keeping informed about county government as well as the deplorable conflicts of interest. If you contact me, I will be more than happy to share documents from the last 3-4 years...Tommy Davis

Toda 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Matt_Woodruff => qualifying email to TTA (FAA) was sent...thanks for the insight. They have a 6000 x 100 ft runway.

I guess the Pinehurst Airport Authority is trying to keep up ... ?

OldPilot 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Toda: 1) the figures are taken directly from a report the staff of the Moore County Airport prepares every month; and 2) the report shows the figures for the prior thirteen months. The "Raleigh-Executive Jetport" does not have commuter service (ie" FAR Part 121 scheduled service). It, like the Moore County Airport, supports charter service (ie: FAR Part 135) as well as fractional operators and general aviation owner/operators (ie: FAR Part 91). Sorry, no "skin in the game" and no "relationship with members of the Authority", just an old pilot & member of the flying public who appreciates accurate information.

OneNativfe 6 months, 4 weeks ago

“The intersection as it now stands is way too close to the runway,” Delauter said. “It’s a safety hazard by FAA definition.” From March 3rd, 2005 in The Pilot.

This was the statement made when $6 million was spent to move NC 22. Not sure which end the extension will be on but either way, it will put the runway closer to a road. If the extension is on the NC 22 side, then it becomes clear that the whole purpose of moving the road was to extend the runway and it was a secret deal with someone in the federal government.

AFCHIEF 6 months, 4 weeks ago

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OneNativfe 6 months, 4 weeks ago

http://www.southfranklintwp.org/airport/rpz.htm

Also...this is a link that describes a runway protection zone.

OldPilot 6 months, 4 weeks ago

OneNativfe: The old NC 22 intersection was indeed too close to the southwest end of the runway. The intersection was relocated. The runway extensions at each end will be available for takeoff only, not landing, thereby preserving the increased distance from the landing threshold the relocation of the intersection created. It's called a displaced threshold, a commonly utilized solution in this type of situation. Hope this helps.

hypo4x 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Doughnuts----there are a bunch of those trees around my house. Hope they leave the house when those trees go.

hypo4x 6 months, 4 weeks ago

I also wonder if any of that 3 million is for buying houses that are in the safety zone. It kind of looks like the houses on Highland Dr would be in the empty land area, if the zone is the same size as it is on the 22 end.

JohnANagy 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Editor's comment: Some of the comments from TODA and AFCHIEF were removed because they were personal attacks aimed at each other and in violation of the site's Terms of Service. So if some remarks in the string seem not to make sense, that's why. To Toda and AFChief: disagree agreeably, gentlemen.

Matt_Woodruff 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Just for clarification, the displaced thresholds can be used during actual landing operations (rollout) just not included in any landing distance requirement calculations.

Toda 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Mr. Nagy if you think back a few weeks ago, when cooldaddy aka Joe Garrison attacked me personally, you chose not to remove his comments. Now when I'm personally attacked once again, board moderation seems to be the "right" thing to do.

I enjoy spirited "civil" debates, and it has become obvious for some on these boards, when civil discussion escapes them, they resort to personal attacks. Perhaps selective moderation as opposed to challenging those who abuse the boards is the new course for The Pilot.

Toda 6 months, 4 weeks ago

101jackson => "I usually pick my arguements with keeping in mind their importance, this one I see little need or room for arguement, it is as they say, a done deal."

As with most of the backroom politics in Carthage these days, and the direction the county should be heading around the conference table at Southern Software, Inc., since I can only speak for myself, tell me, why was 13 acres purchased by taxpayers and then deeded to the Airport Authority when according to a spreadsheet made available to me, they have over a million dollars for operations?

Why were the hangers built several years ago with taxpayers money given to the independent authority? Why are taxpayers money in the General Fund balance provided to the authority as a loan to be repaid without any interest; While the taxpayers are paying millions in interest on public debt?

Commissioners Lea and Picerno discussed wording in the deed documents so that the board could at a later date restrict sale of the property without authority challenges.

My position is not growth. Never has been. But when the hotel and motel association and the convention bureau lobby commissioners who are supposed to represent the people, I have a problem with Washington style politics as well as unrestrained spending here in Poorer County.

AFCHIEF 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Mr Nagy no problems with removing my comments. I'll admit I was wrong.

Toda 6 months, 4 weeks ago

Based on an email I sent to the Raleigh Jetport in Lee County, I yield to the inaccuracies of my comments regarding commuter service:

Hi Tommy, There are no scheduled flights from TTA to RDU, and because of how close we are to them, I doubt there will be any in the future. Thanks for the interest, Dan Swanson

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Airport Awarded $3 Million for Improvements

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