West Virginia lawmakers eye aviation industry as key to economic development in the state

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Leadership in West Virginia’s House of Delegates say boosting economic development through aviation is a priority in the upcoming legislative session.

Some of the ideas expected include creating a new aviation technician training program, supporting regional airports and a program for helping finance hangar development.

The idea is to expand the maintenance, repair and overhaul – or MRO – work that’s been successful in Clarksburg to other airports and expand aircraft painting.

“West Virginia has a strong aviation industry – for decades. You have companies like Pratt Whitney, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, MHIRJ, the old Bombardier, that have been here for decades and really have invested in West Virginia, and I think what you’ve seen is we delivered for them,” Del Clay Riley, R-Harrison, said.

Lawmakers believe the Mountain State is still positioned to be a center of aviation work.

“We can compete both nationally and internationally with other airport environments to domicile major investments here in our state from companies looking for more hospitable places to do aviation work,” House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, said. “That includes like maintenance, repair and overhaul of jet engines and things like painting of major airplanes.”

Riley said development would favor airports with longer runways when it comes to maintenance, repair and overhaul because larger airplanes could land there.

“We have three runways with property that’s runway adjacent that are larger than LaGuardia Airport and larger than Reagan National,” he said. “Those are Clarksburg, Martinsburg and Parkersburg.”

The aviation industry is apparently looking for low traffic, long runways and adjacent property.

Riley said lawmakers could elect to cut red tape for permitting, finance hangars and expand training.

Meanwhile, West Virginia’s aviation industry just received a C- grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers, but noted it already contributes $1.6 billion annually to the state’s economy.