Aside from rebuilding the Warren Field Airport terminal destroyed by a gustnado July 1, 2012, the City of Washington has other airport-related projects and events going on or planned to happen.

At its Oct. 7 meeting, the City Council authorized the city manager to sign the 2014-2020 transportation improvement plan for the airport and submit it to the N.C. Department of Transportation for consideration of funding for the plan’s proposed projects. The city manager’s signature on the document does not commit the city to provide funding for any or all of the proposed projects, which total $8,095,375.

The plan calls for spending $2.23 million to build an overlay for runway 5-23 and rehabilitate the runway’s pavement. It also calls for spending $2.035 million to extend the runway by 600 feet. The plan recommends spending $650,000 to design and build a new maintenance hangar and spending $560,000 for a new six-unit T hangar. The plan also recommends spending $500,000 for approach lights for runway 5 to improve visibility minimums.

Only if the N.C. Division of Aviation awards grant funds to an airport sponsor will be city be required to provide funds for a project. The plan was reviewed and endorsed by the city’s Airport Advisory Board and its airport engineering firm, Talbert & Bright.

The council also approved an agreement between the city and Eastern Flying Service Inc. for a one-year lease of the corporate hangar at the airport for $1, but the rent for that year is $10,000. The hangar measured 80 feet by 66 feet. Eastern Flying Service may use the hangar for aircraft-related operations and storage of aircraft.

The council also approved spending $15,752 for a flex-wing mower  (bat-wing mower) with a 15-foot cutting span to mow the infield grass at the airport where finished mowing is not necessary. A tractor from the Public Works Department will pull the mower.