Virginia lawmakers seek funding for aviation facility

Virginia’s congressional delegation is urging the Army National Guard to prioritize funding for a new aviation facility in Richmond, Va., as part of the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP).

The lawmakers said the funding would help complete a facility to house the Virginia Army National Guard’s 28-aircraft fleet by the time its current lease with the Richmond Airport expires in 2032. The FYDP is typically included as part of the President’s budget outlining the programs and budget requests for the Department of Defense (DoD).

“This project is the number one priority for the Virginia Army National Guard and is desperately needed to replace aging and undersized facilities at Richmond International Airport, which are no longer suitable for mission execution,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Army National Guard Director LTG Daniel R. Hokanson. “Additionally, the existing facility must be vacated by the National Guard as they have been formally notified by the airfield that their lease will not be renewed in order to make way for a planned runway expansion. Due to the criticality of this capability for the National Guard, the Commonwealth of Virginia has appropriated $4.5 million in state funding to support this project, even though state contribution is not required.”

The project is currently dependent on incremental phases and funding. The legislators maintain full federal funding is required to complete the aviation facility better suited for their operational needs and ensure it will be ready in time for the pending relocation.

“This concern, in conjunction with the cost savings and operational efficiencies of designing and constructing the facility as a single project, lead us to believe that the best solution for the mission and the taxpayers is to fund the entire requirement of $89 million in one fiscal year,” the delegation concluded.