Will Remain Open To GA Aircraft While Expanding Aviation Curriculum

Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA has closed on the purchase of nearby New London Airport (W90) for $1.8 million, and has plans to make improvements at the airport and expand the offerings of its aviation school.

The News & Advance newspaper reports that while there are not yet more specific plans for the field, it will remain open for use by the GA community. Kevin Murray, former co-owner of W90, said that he and other owners "looked and found the appropriate client who would keep it an airport and I think we found the best one available.”

The purchase brings the number of airport properties owned by the university to two. Falwell Airport (W24) in Lynchburg is not owned by the university, but rather by what airport manager Roger Beck described as a "consortium of Falwell family members," though he would not name the individuals.

Liberty University also owns Freedom Aviation, the former Virginia Aviation FBO it acquired at Lynchburg Airport. It is not known whether the FBO at New London would become a part of Freedom Aviation, or would be operated independently. Pilots have been filling their own gas tanks at New London since the airport operations manager passed away last October.

There is also a drag strip that shares space with the airport, and which was built two years before the airport opened in 1958. The drag strip operator, Kelley Powell, said that he expects to have a normal 2016 schedule under the new owners, and he hopes to have a long-standing relationship with the university.

On days when there is drag racing at the airport, it is not used as an aviation facility. In 2015, that was 18 days.

FMI: http://www.liberty.edu/academics/aeronautics