A master plan update is a comprehensive study designed to depict an airport’s short–, medium–, and long–term development plans to meet future aviation demand in a safe, efficient, economical, and environmentally responsible manner. The purpose of the study is to identify short and long–term needs of the airport, tenants, users, and the public. The data collected is used to create a development plan forecasted over a 20–year planning horizon.

The Manassas Regional Airport last completed a Master Plan and accompanying Airport Layout Plan (ALP) drawing set in 2002. Since then, the airport and the industry have made significant changes in direction and practices. The airport’s proximity to the nation’s capital and significant growth in the Manassas region have led HEF to find a new direction to meet the needs of modern day.

The Airport Commission has awarded a contract to RS&H to develop a new Master Plan for HEF. RS&H was selected from a national competitive bidding process to carry out the study. RS&H, and sub–consultants thereof, will work closely with the Airport Commission to complete the study.

The Manassas Regional Airport is operated under the authority of the Airport Commission. Airport operations are funded using airport revenues. All revenues earned by the airport must be spent solely for airport purposes, and the airport strives to fund all operating costs using only airport operating revenues. Some airport capital projects are funded by non–aviation related revenues (i.e., concessions), aviation revenues (i.e., rents and landing fees), and federal and state grants.

This Airport Master Plan Study is fully funded using a 100 percent federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant.

The current timeline anticipates completion of the study in the third quarter of 2023.

The components of an Airport Master Plan Study include:

• An inventory of existing facilities and collection of current activity data
• Development of an aviation activity forecast
• Determination of future facility requirements
• Creation of alternative development concepts
• Development of a financial implementation plan
• An environmental review to identify implementation actions
• Creating the Airport Layout Plan documents in accordance with federal design standards