Virginia Department of Aviation

2022 Virginia Air Transportation Plan (VATSP)

The Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) is undertaking an update to its statewide aviation system plan. As news of the 2022 Virginia Air Transportation System Plan (VATSP) becomes available, it will be posted here.

What is a statewide system plan?

A state aviation system plan is a high-level assessment of the airports that comprise a state airport system. This assessment is typically tailored to the needs of the study sponsor, but usually includes an evaluation of the performance of the airport system, future system needs, and the needs of the system  airports to properly serve their aviation users. Performance evaluations often consist of measuring the levels of service that the airport system provides residents and businesses of the state. Individual airports are usually assessed for the adequacy of their facilities, such as runway width and length, passenger terminal, or supporting infrastructure. 

What is the purpose of this system plan?

The DOAV has a long history of airport system planning, reaching back to the 1940s. DOAV updates its airport system plan periodically, with the last update taking place in 2016. The 2022 VATSP will examine the 66 public-use airports in the Virginia airport system. The purpose of this study is to develop a modern system plan that will serve as a blueprint for airport development in the Commonwealth for the next 20 years.

What will the 2022 VATSP examine?

The goals and objectives of this study are in development at this time. As part of the study, DOAV has undertaken a review of the aviation system plans of peer states, which will assist DOAV in formulating the goals and objectives of the study. To assist in this task, a Study Advisory Group (SAG) has been formed from a diverse group of airport development professionals from throughout the airports in Virginia.

Other known aspects of the study include:

  • An inventory of current facilities and services at each system airport
  • A forecast of future aviation activity at each system airport, including an examination of the impact of the pandemic on aviation in Virginia.
  • Facility requirements at each system airport
  • Estimated costs of development for needed facilities at each system airport
  • Analysis of system-wide performance
  • Evaluation of funding for the estimated costs of development
  • Recommended policy changes and an implementation plan
  • A collection of deliverables that will communicate and explain the findings and recommendations of the VATSP

Who did DOAV select to perform this study?

For this system plan study, DOAV selected a team of consultants led by Mead & Hunt. Stephanie Ward, Mead & Hunt’s project manager for the effort, assembled a team of experts from the aviation consulting firms of RS&H, The Meehan Aviation Group, Cignus, Sharp & Company, and Marr Arnold Planning.