Dec 15, 2013 2 min read

Washington County Airport turned 66 this year, but is nowhere near retirement. It is physically fit and appearing to get stronger.

Scott Gray has overseen a number of upgrades, expansions and changes in the three years he has been executive director, and said more work is ahead.

Improvements to the terminal building were made and completed during the summer.

“That was a tremendous improvement for pe0ple coming and going at the airport,” Gray said.

This premature winter weather, he said, delayed some airfield pavement work.

“All of the pavement will be replaced, repaired, rehabbed or seal-coated next year. We’ll probably start around May and be done by August.”

Gray said development of the northern end of the 401-acre airport is a priority. “We anticipate running out of space on the southern end, with Skyward Aviation growing. Our goal is to start to move in that direction. We have some studies to do – like environmental – before we can do that.”

Asked about the impact the oil and gas industry has had on county airport traffic, Gray said: “It’s hard to pinpoint because we don’t meet and greet every person who gets on or off a plane. But from what I understand, a lot of support companies in Marcellus are coming here – not necessarily large companies, but subcontractors.

“There certainly has been an uptick of traffic, but probably not as much as one would anticipate, maybe 10 or 15 percent.”