Lynchburg Regional Airport
Still Alive but Gasping

The Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) will allow you to fly anywhere in the world as long as you start out on U.S. Air and feel like making your first transfer in Charlotte.

For years, 16 to be exact, Delta was also a stalwart Lynchburg carrier but on January 4, 2011, Delta exited Lynchburg and moved up the road to Roanoke.

There seems to be differing opinions as to the reason. According to Delta, the Lynchburg connection became unprofitable and they wanted to redeploy the dollars to more profitable markets.

The other, more likely, scenario is that Delta simply could not compete with U.S. Airlines more cost effective turbo-props. No matter, the end result is still the same.

Unless another airline decides to service Lynchburg, the most likely outcome will be an increase in U.S. Airline's fare and a shift of Lynchburg flyers to Roanoke, Raleigh-Durham or Greensboro. Delta's departure leaves around 70,000 passenger seats a year up for grabs and we will see if another airline decides to pick up the slack.

So until then, Lynchburgers will have to be content flying into and out of Charlotte, NC unless they want to drive 56 miles to Roanoke, 115 miles to Greensboro or 138 miles to RDU, Raleigh-Durham International Airport for alternate carriers.

General information about Lynchburg's Regional Airport, also known as Preston Glenn Field, can be seen at a neat website put up by iFly.com. Another option is the City of Lynchburg's government site which also contains useful information about the Lynchburg Regional Airport.

Information on Scheduled Arrivals and Departures for the Lynchburg regional airport are also available online and are kept up to date. Shown below are snapshots of the Arrival and Departure boards behind the ticket and check in counter taken on July 8, 2011. The online flight data and actual photo data are in sync as of July 8th. Very encouraging.

There are two fixed based operators of the Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) in the area.

A fixed base operator offers services to passengers and private pilots including aircraft maintenance, flight training, charter flights and aircraft and fuel sales. Very often, line services, avionics, and parts are also available from a fixed base operator.

Virginia Aviation

The first is Virginia Aviation located at the Lynchburg Regional Airport. It has a lot to offer private pilots.

Need fuel, a hanger to house your wings, deicing, cleaning or lots of room on the ramp; it's all there. Avionics on the fritz or need upgrading, calibrating or recertifying? Virginia Aviation is an FAA certified repair station and holds 1, 2, and 3 radio classes and limited instrument ratings.

They have been a certified Cessna single engine dealer for 20 years and got their multi-engine Cessna Service Center dealership in 2009. Got a Mooney, Lycoming or Cirrus? Their service center can handle it which means they have a parts inventory for every need.

Lastly, Virginia Aviation offers flight training for Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi Engine and Airline Transport Pilot Licenses in both single and multiengine aircraft.

They can be reached at (434) 237-8420 and have very informative, comprehensive .

FalWell Aviation and Falwell Airport

The second fixed base operator (FBO) is Falwell Aviation located at Falwell Aviation Jet Center, 310 Hangar Rd.Lynchburg, VA 24502.

There is also the Falwell Airport (FAA W24) which is a private airport located 3 mi southeast of downtown Lynchburg, Serving as the base for Falwell Aviation. The Falwell Airport is tucked snugly between the eastern "V" of the interchange of 501 (Campbell Ave) and 460/29, being entered from north side; that is, from the 460/29 (Richmond Hwy).

Falwell Aviation can be reached at 434-237-7002 and the Falwell Airport at 434-845-8769.

There is a website for Falwell Aviation with a link to Lynchburg University's School of Aeronautics. Why the link?

On January 1, 2010, Liberty University acquired Falwell Aviation through a merger. The union of Liberty University and Falwell Aviation created one of the largest aviation programs in the country.

A federally approved flight school for pilot training with the best training aircraft and certified instructors is available at the facility through Liberty University.

The company also provides services such as refueling for the Lynchburg Regional Airport, and charter flight services for area corporations.

Included in the acquisition was a 55,500-square-foot facility with three aircraft maintenance and storage hangars, maintenance workspace, flight operations, classrooms, aircraft dispatch, student study areas and customer service facilities for charter passengers and other planes.

If you would rather keep your feet on the ground, or rails as it were, take a look at rail service in Lynchburg.

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