by Tom Chillemi –
After decades of discussion, building a longer, safer runway has begun at Hummel Field airport in Topping.
Oscar Barber, of Delaware Corporation (DelCorp) in Topping, is working with Middlesex County and the Virginia Department of Aviation (VDOA) to improve the runway.
The runway improvements will not cost Middlesex County any money, according to Middlesex Airport Committee Chairman Jamie Barnhardt this week. Barber has pledged to pay all of the local share to overhaul Hummel Field, which is owned by Middlesex County.
DelCorp’s proposal assumes the total cost of improvements to be $1.5 million, with DelCorp funding about $590,000.
The plan includes making the runway 1,000 feet longer and aligning the runway so planes will not fly over houses.
Hummel Field’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 newly constructed runway is lengthened to 3,200 feet and widened to state standards.
The current runway will be abandoned.
Realignment
Also planned, and already under way, is moving the north end of the runway to the east about six degrees so that planes using the airport would fly over water. Currently, planes using the runway fly over houses.
Also being added at Hummel is a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) that gives pilots guidance information to help them acquire and maintain the correct approach when landing.
Land donation
An additional eight and a half acres will be needed to realign the runway and DelCorp will contribute the eight and a half acres as part of the project. The land valued at $300,000 will be considered part of the local match.
In the above photo, the fresh dark black asphalt, without lines, has been laid on Barber’s land.
State funds
In summer 2020, the VDOA changed the status of Hummel to a “General-Aviation-Community” airport at the request of the Middlesex County Board of Supervisors.
As a general aviation airport, Hummel is now eligible for the first time in its history to receive state funds for construction. Typically the state funds 80% and the locality pays 20%. Previously, the airport, which is owned by Middlesex County, was designated a “Local” airport and could get state money only for maintenance, and not construction.
