Pilot-businessman Barber recognized for Hummel Field work

by Tom Chillemi –

Pilot and businessman Oscar Barber has been flying out of Hummel Field airport for about 60 years. As a crop duster, cargo hauler, charter pilot, and fish spotter he knew the limitation of the runway, which at 2,200 feet was one of the shortest in Virginia — and five feet under the minimum width. With 100-foot-tall trees located 700 feet from the runway’s north end, the pilots faced another challenge.

For at least three decades there’s been talk by pilots and aviation officials of building a longer runway until Barber put talk and action together and navigated the regulations necessary to make it happen.

This past summer, after years of planning, Barber’s “dream” to make the runway longer, wider and safer was realized. As the project manager, Barber took three months to build the new runway while having the airport closed to aircraft traffic for only four weeks.

Hummel Field now has a runway that is 3,200 feet long and aligned so planes don’t fly over houses. One of the best parts, the cost to Middlesex County, which owns the airport, is zero. The Virginia Department of Aviation (VDOA) will pay 80% of the $1.5 million project and Barber will pay the local share of 20%. He also donated about eight acres to the project.

Partnership

The project, done under the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995 (PPTA), is the first of its kind in Virginia. Greg Campbell, director of the VDOA, said the public-private partnership shortens the time for this type of project, that could otherwise take five to 10 years.

Barber’s plan was approved by the VDOA Board about two years ago, and the new runway opened about noon on Sept. 8. Still to be done by Barber is installation of runway lighting and Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights to aid night landings.

“Oscar Barber accomplished the runway realignment and extension project in about 28 months from the start of the process,” said Campbell. “The runway extension and realignment greatly enhance safety both for aircraft using the facility and the surrounding community.”

Hummel Field is now equal to other airports of its size, Campbell continued. “By lengthening the runway to 3,200 feet, it brings the airport much more in line with other airports in the Commonwealth that see similar operations, and provides utility to the local area and the commonwealth’s aviation system.”