About three years ago, the university decided not to replace two full-time mechanics when they took other jobs, leaving none at the airport. Now, he said, pilots must ask mechanics to make house calls. It's pretty discouraging. The university recently was unable to offer financial assistance to an Alabama company that discussed starting a commuter airline service from Blacksburg. The company, Blue Ridge Air, last fall also made a pitch to the NRV Airport.
Some local officials are skeptical that enough regional demand exists for the service.
A call to the Prattville, Ala., office of the company found the number disconnected. The length of the runway could be an impediment to economic development, Wilkins said. Some businesses with which he works as director of the Fralin Biotechnology Center are unable to land their largest jets in Blacksburg, because their flight insurance requires a runway at least 5,000 feet long. Expanding the runway is in the university's long range master plan, but has not been funded. So officials have asked local governments whether they would like to chip in and help determine the airport's future.