Hummel Field now eligible for state construction money

by Tom Chillemi – 

The Virginia Department of Aviation has changed the status of Hummel Field, the airport in Topping, to a “General-Aviation-Community” airport. The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors (BOS) requested this change in May.

As a general aviation airport, Hummel is now eligible for the first time in its history to receive state funds for construction.

DelCorp’s proposal assumes the total cost of improvements to be $1.3 million, with the Virginia Department of Aviation funding 70%, and DelCorp funding 30%, about $390,000.

Longer runway

Hummel Airport’s current runway, at 2,200 feet, is the second shortest public runway in the state. And, at 45 feet wide, the runway is five feet less than the state minimum width. The proposal would lengthen the runway to 3,200 feet and widen it.

Review

In July, the BOS voted to form a “review and negotiating” committee to evaluate the DelCorp proposal and advise the board of supervisors.

Grant

Jon McCalmont, of the consulting firm of Parrish and Partners, told the BOS in July that the county will have to prepare an airport layout plan as well as an environmental impact review and work with the Virginia Department of Aviation (VDOA). The proposed project will be considered by the Virginia Aviation Board (VAB) in September, he said.

Concern

H.R. Perkinson III and Jean Perkinson Holoman, who are trustees of the Herbert R. Perkinson Jr. Trust, submitted a letter to the BOS stating concerns that the airport expansion will move the runway 100 feet closer to the historic home Prospect located just east…