b'GENERAL AVIATIONPVG 43Areas under the new runway required about 24 inches ofPrivate vs. Publicundercut, but the parallel taxiway required 3 to 4 feet of undercut toAccording to the FAA, there are approximately 14,400 private-use achieve a base that would allow application of a geogrid to furtherand 5,000 public-use airports, heliports and seaplane bases in the stabilize the base soil. In total, crews installed about 110,000United States. Approximately 3,300 of the public-use facilities are square yards of Tensar TX5, a tri-axial geogrid, under the newincluded in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) runway and taxiway. Earthwork totals amounted to 320,000 cubicand potentially eligible for Airport Improvement Program funding. yards of onsite excavation plus 605,000 cubic yards of importedAs a privately owned, but public-use airport, PVG experiences sand fill to build up the runway and taxiway complex.both the advantages and challenges of belonging to the NPIAS Hold the Line network. As if soil challenges werent enough, there was a key city waterThe biggest perk is funding. The government has been the line under the site for the new runway. In addition, its extra lengthbest part of owning the airport, as most of the staff are aviation created a conflict with a high voltage line that serves the city ofenthusiasts, Fox says, adding that Virginia has one of the most Chesapeakes well sites located at the north side of Runway 10-28.robust, cutting-edge aviation agencies in the country. We had to coordinate with Dominion Power to expose the lineAnother potential advantage of private ownership is nimble and install the new drainage structures underneath the powermanagement. Fox notes that decisions and funding at PVG can lines, says Peterson. To facilitate future maintenance, designershappen within hours, while similar matters at municipally owned added a pair of 6-inch PVC conduits encased in concrete. One isairports often take weeks or months. This allows him to respond a split duct that wraps around the existing cables. more quickly to tenant needs and requests. The new runway also had to cross a 20-inch water line on theFox also considers the ability to draft his own team a big northwest side of the airport. It was the main raw water line forplus. Our professional management, concierge/fueler staff and two of the city of Chesapeakes well sites, notes Jaeger. Themaintenance team have made the difference in the growth of the Talbert & Bright team designed a vertical offset to the existingairport, says Fox. The Hampton Roads region has a skilled and water line to provide at least 12 inches of vertical separationpassionate workforce that includes retired aviation professionals between it and the drainage piping. Designers also specifiedwith valuable experience, he adds.a 30-inch steel split casing on the water line in the proposed runway pavement area that extends 20 feet on each side of the runway for a total of 140 feet.Ahead of Its TimeWith utilities and soil challenges overcome, the runway, taxiway and apron were ready to be paved. Because the airport is located directly on U.S. Highway 58, crews had to coordinate a constant stream of truck deliveries, each loaded with 20 tons of asphalt, moving along the busy roadway. In all, contractors trucked in 28,000 tons of asphalt for the runway and taxiway, plus 10,000 tons for aircraft parking and other paved areas.The new 5,350-foot runway opened in September 2014 and the new parallel taxiway opened in October 2015. Project leaders from Talbert & Bright consider building the runway while keeping the airport operational a major success. Everything at the airport was impacted during all of the construction, but nothing was shut down, Jaeger reports. Peterson highlights the project pace. From start to finish, everything involved with the planning, designing, construction of a runway takes about 20 years to get to completion, he explains. So finishing it within 15 years is a big accomplishment with everything else that needed to be done. AirportImprovement.comNovember | December 2024'