Tag Archive for: #hendersonoxfordairport

Henderson-Oxford Airport Funding

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At the regular June meeting of The Henderson City Council, the local airport manager and board chair, Amanda Welsh and David Thomas respectively, presented economic impact information, answered questions and updated the council in advance of the final FY27 City Budget.

A loss of funding or lower funding would have its biggest impact on the airport’s ability to go after grants and larger funding sources because of required matching funds like percentage matches, according to Steve Welsh, who also spoke. He’s an instructor and father-in-law to Amanda Welsh.

As presently written, Henderson will provide just over $33,000 in the FY27 budget, and the airport receives appropriations from Oxford as well as Vance County and Granville County.

Thomas asked the council to consider the airport’s proposal and to continue to support it. His appearance follows a recent council budget work session discussion about savings to the budget by cutting funding to the Henderson-Oxford airport.

Amanda Welsh said, “Supporting the Henderson-Oxford Airport, supports this town of Henderson and those in it. End of story. Period.”

Thomas said, “One of the greatest values lies not in the planes based here today but in the business jobs, in the investments, it can attract over the next 5 to 10 to 20 years.”

He said in response to a question from Councilperson Kenia Gomez-Jimenez, “Henderson is the first name on the airport. And if the funding is not appropriated for the airport, then I lose my position as representative for the City of Henderson. By losing that, we lose the name of Henderson on the airport.”

Thomas said it could be viewed negatively by those looking to invest here, and “they look at that and say, well, ‘what happened to the name Henderson Oxford Airport? Henderson would not support the airport.’ So the industry, in my opinion, is going to look at it and say, ‘well, we don’t need to come to Henderson if they can’t support their own airport.’ … We’ve got one of the better airports around.”

Following a question from Mayor Pro Tem Tami Walker, Amanda Welsh said, “…if you just remember the return on investment, I know that it is tempting and necessary sometimes to look at budgets and say cut, cut, cut. You cutting could just be unfortunate for the City overall.”

Steve Welsh said a $1 million project really only costs the four contributors $100,000. He said, “So to the extent that you cut it back, the airport would obviously still exist, but the ability to go after some of those grants where it’s a 90-10 (percent split) or a 5-95 (percentage split) or an 80-20 or something like that, where somebody brings the 80 and we have to come up with a 20, we would not be able to make the updates as quick.”

(The story continues below this audio. Click Play for more information and the TownTalk broadcast.)

The Henderson City Council seemed to indicate it would like regular updates from the Henderson-Oxford Airport in addition to the airport’s annual report to the council and notification of any airport board meetings the council’s representative may attend.

Councilperson Sam Seifert said, “…it’s good for our community. It’s good for business. And it’s good for economic development. We may not see it right now, but it will pay dividends down the road. … What Henderson provides is really a nominal amount, but it demonstrates support of a resource here in town that you just can’t measure the impact it has now and what it could have in the future.”

Thomas said, “From 2022 to today’s date, we have done $12,326,000 worth of updates, repairs, and replacements in the airport.”

Also about the big money and upgrades, recall back to March when WIZS reported as follows:

The Henderson-Oxford Airport has gotten a $9.4 million infusion of local, state and federal funds to make some major upgrades and renovations to its facility, located just inside Granville County.
At its March 16 meeting, the Granville County Board of Commissioners OK’d $300,000 for a water infrastructure project that will bring municipal water to the airport.
Tack on $232,500 in state funds for a taxiway project and an earlier half a million dollars from the state for the water project and it all adds up to significant improvements to the airport, located 10 miles northwest of the City of Henderson and about five miles from Oxford.
Back in December 2025, the NCDOT Division of Aviation notified HNZ Chairman David Thomas, Henderson’s board appointee, that the airport had been approved for $8.8 million for the airport’s taxiway relocation project. Then in February, another $600,000 from the Golden LEAF Foundation came through for the water main extension project.
“We are very appreciative that the Division of Aviation has recognized HNZ’s contribution to the state aviation system and seen fit to partner with us on the funding the taxiway relocation,” Thomas stated. “The financial support from the federal, state, and Granville County government, as well as the Golden LEAF Foundation, will get a great deal of work done in improving our airport.”
Granville County Commissioner Rob Williford represents the district in which the airport is located. “We believe in the airport’s potential, and we believe in our county and in our region,” Williford said. “This investment in getting water to the airport isn’t just a water project; it’s an investment in the economic development of Granville County and the Kerr-Tar region.”
“Both of these projects are building blocks for us,” commented Jon Carver, the Authority’s vice-chair and the Granville County appointee to the Authority’s board. “This funding helps kick start a capital improvement program that includes a new FBO and a lot more hangar space for more diverse and larger aircraft.”
“The expansion potential at HNZ is exciting. We just needed this 12” line and now we have it. We’re ready to grow our business presence at HNZ,” said Carver.
Officially titled “the Aeronautics Authority of the City of Henderson, City of Oxford, County of Granville, and County of Vance”, the HNZ Authority was enabled by state legislation introduced in 1945. The Authority is a partnership between the City of Oxford, Granville County, the City of Henderson, and Vance County; each entity appoints a member to the HNZ authority board.
Construction began at the airport in 1966, and it became fully operational in 1971. By 1982, the original 3500′ runway had been extended to 5,002′ and lighting was added to the runway and taxiway. In 2014, the runway and taxiway were extended to 5501’x100′. In 2020, T-Hangar “A” was constructed.
HNZ handles more than 25,000 annual operations. HNZ and the woman- and family-owned fixed base operator offer aircraft hangar and tie-down rentals, fuel services, aircraft maintenance and safety support, corporate and business aviation operations, community engagement activities and youth aviation exposure. The private business, Empire Aviation Flight School, located at HNZ in 2009 and offers private pilot training (including ground school), discovery flights, and leisure flights.
For more information about HNZ, visit www.flyHNZ.com.

Henderson-Oxford Airport Gets Funding For Runway Improvement, Water Extension

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Over the past few months, the Henderson-Oxford Airport has gotten a $9.4 million infusion of local, state and federal funds to make some major upgrades and renovations to its facility, located just inside Granville County.

At its Mar. 16 meeting, the Granville County Board of Commissioners OK’d $300,000 for a water infrastructure project that will bring municipal water to the airport.

Tack on $232,500 in state funds for a taxiway project and an earlier half a million dollars from the state for the water project and it all adds up to significant improvements to the airport, located 10 miles northwest of the City of Henderson and about five miles from Oxford.

Back in December 2025, the NCDOT Division of Aviation notified HNZ Chairman David Thomas, Henderson’s board appointee, that the airport had been approved for $8.8 million for the airport’s taxiway relocation project. Then in February, another $600,000 from the Golden LEAF Foundation came through for the water main extension project.

“We are very appreciative that the Division of Aviation has recognized HNZ’s contribution to the state aviation system and seen fit to partner with us on the funding the taxiway relocation,” Thomas stated. “The financial support from the federal, state, and Granville County government, as well as the Golden LEAF Foundation, will get a great deal of work done in improving our airport.”

Granville County Commissioner Rob Williford represents the district in which the airport is located. “We believe in the airport’s potential, and we believe in our county and in our region,” Williford said. “This investment in getting water to the airport isn’t just a water project; it’s an investment in the economic development of Granville County and the Kerr-Tar region.”

“Both of these projects are building blocks for us,” commented Jon Carver, the Authority’s vice-chair and the Granville County appointee to the Authority’s board. “This funding helps kick start a capital improvement program that includes a new FBO and a lot more hangar space for more diverse and larger aircraft.”

“The expansion potential at HNZ is exciting. We just needed this 12” line and now we have it. We’re ready to grow our business presence at HNZ,” said Carver.

Officially titled “the Aeronautics Authority of the City of Henderson, City of Oxford, County of Granville, and County of Vance”, the HNZ Authority was enabled by state legislation introduced in 1945. The Authority is a partnership between the City of Oxford, Granville County, the City of Henderson, and Vance County; each entity appoints a member to the HNZ authority board.

Construction began at the airport in 1966, and it became fully operational in 1971. By 1982, the original 3500′ runway had been extended to 5,002′ and lighting was added to the runway and taxiway. In 2014, the runway and taxiway were extended to 5501’x100′. In 2020, T-Hangar “A” was constructed.

HNZ handles more than 25,000 annual operations. HNZ and the woman- and family-owned fixed base operator offer aircraft hangar and tie-down rentals, fuel services, aircraft maintenance and safety support, corporate and business aviation operations, community engagement activities and youth aviation exposure. The private business, Empire Aviation Flight School, located at HNZ in 2009 and offers private pilot training (including ground school), discovery flights, and leisure flights.

For more information about HNZ, visit www.flyHNZ.com.

(The text of this story was originally posted March 20, 2026.)

TownTalk: Military History Show Taking Place On October 28

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The 8th annual Military History Show will take place at the Henderson-Oxford Airport later this month, and organizer Harry Coombs said he’s looking forward to another successful event during which attendees can see military hardware up close and better understand what men and women of the military may have endured during their time in combat.

Coombs said he expects a bevy of re-enactors to be on hand for the event, which takes place on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There have been re-enactors, in full military gear, from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World Wars I and II, among others, he said on Tuesday’s Town Talk.

“It’s the same every year,” he said, “but it’s different every year,” he added, since he doesn’t always know well ahead of time exactly who is going to show up. Proceeds benefit the Granville County Veterans Affairs Committee. The airport is located at 6514 Airport Rd., just over the Granville/Vance line.

One thing that will return, he said, is the popular silent auction. Items are available for viewing during the event, and high bidders can claim a variety of items and services.

And Total Flight Solutions is back once more to provide helicopter rides – just be prepared to pay the ticket price and wait in line, Coombs said. “It’s always very popular.”

There’s no charge for admission to the event, but there is a donation bucket for anyone inclined to “throw some money into the bucket.”

And any student who may be interested in getting some community service hours is welcome to contact Coombs – there seems always to be a need for parking attendants.

Once parked, individuals can see displays of how camps may have been set up, depending on the era in which the war took place. Tents will be set up, and there will be some equipment on display. Re-enactors are available to answer questions as well.

The yellow Navy bi-plane may be on display again this year, Coombs said. A weapons demonstration will be held – firing blanks – and there could be a couple of heavy artillery pieces as well.

So whether you’re a military history buff or want to learn more about military history, mark your calendars for Saturday, Oct. 28. It promises to be an entertaining, educational event for the whole family.

To learn more, contact 919.691.7697.

 

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Military History Show Coming To Local Airport Oct. 29

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The 7th annual Military History Show will take place Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Henderson-Oxford Airport in Oxford.

The free event is open to the public and will be held 10a.m. to 4 p.m., complete with a display of military equipment, uniforms and other historical articles. Participants can bid on items during a Silent Auction and Total Flight Solutions will be on hand for helicopter rides.

All proceeds will benefit the Veterans Affairs Committee of Granville County.

Contact Harry Coombs to secure a vendor space, make a donation or to become a sponsor. At 919.691.7697 or Harry4th@centurylink.net.

The airport is located at 6514 Airport Rd., Oxford, NC 27565

The Local Skinny! Henderson Oxford Airport Flies High

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Chris Welsh likens the Henderson-Oxford Airport to a rest area along the interstate – when a traveler needs to stop, that blue road sign announcing that a rest area is ahead is a welcome sight.

Welsh and his wife, Amanda, have been the fixed-base operators at the airport for the past several years, and he said things are – pardon the pun – looking “up.” Traffic at the airport with its 5,500-foot-long runway is up, he said. And he points to a few reasons for why that is so.

Because the couple can offer maintenance on the aircraft – which other local airstrips do not provide – Welsh said pilots will fly in if they need to get something like a landing gear tire fixed.

But he also said they have seen an increase in small planes coming in since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think a lot of businesses have started (using private aircraft) since COVID – we’re seeing more 4- and 6-seaters coming in for business,” he told John C. Rose today during Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! “And Mako is flying all the time – at least three or four times a week, and I know they’re coming out here at night,” Welsh added, even though he and his wife typically are not there for their arrival.

The pilots communicate on the radio frequency, follow standard traffic patterns, land and then just park the aircraft and follow the sidewalk to the building and parking lot beyond.

Since beginning their jobs there, the Welshes have overseen a couple of project completions, including a runway lighting upgrade and an extra row of hangars, where 10 additional planes now call home.

Some larger aircraft also have flown in – like a King Air 12-passenger turboprop – that previously had used the airstrip in Clarksville, VA. But that runway was shortened by 900 feet recently, which makes landing a larger aircraft a bit more difficult.

“The landing is usually more of the problem,” Welsh said, “because you have to slow down, right?”

Revlon flies a Gulfstream aircraft that is similar in size to a commuter plane, Welsh said. It uses the airport regularly, along with private travelers.

“You could probably land a 737 here,” he said. The problem, however, comes after the landing. “It’s probably too heavy for the pavement,” and then there’s the issue of what kind of vehicle would be available on the ground to tow it.

That rest-area concept Welsh alluded to plays into the airport’s support role for nearby Raleigh-Durham International, which could divert aircraft to the Granville County airport if the need arises.

Raleigh has a couple of flight schools, and Welsh said more student pilots are using the local runway in their training.

“In the first 10 or 15 hours of learning, you don’t need any distractions,” Welsh said. He is a seasoned pilot himself and he also has a commercial license to operate a drone.

“If you’re practicing repetitive landings, you can do three or four here in an hour,” he noted. A student pilot would get half that amount at RDU – and they’d have the added stress of watching for incoming aircraft using the same runway.

Welsh said the airport is home to a couple of flying club airplanes – a Cessna and a Piper – that are based here as part of the RDU flying club. “You can join the club if you’re not a pilot,” Welsh said. “It’s basically the cheapest way to rent an airplane.” Individuals can use the planes to accumulate training hours toward their license, rent it to fly over the lake or take it to the beach for a couple of days. The planes can stay gone overnight, he said, but most of the time they’re tucked back in the hangars after each outing.

Visit www.flyhnz.com to learn more.

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New Operators Hope to See Increased Traffic at Henderson-Oxford Airport

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Chris and Amanda Welsh, with the Henderson-Oxford Airport, were on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss their recent hiring as the local airport’s newest fixed-base operators (FBOs).

Hired in October to manage day-to-day operations such as fueling, hangaring and maintenance, the Welsh family brings a lifelong love for aviation and their years of experience working at the Triangle North Airport in Franklin County with them on this new venture.

“I’ve been involved with airplanes basically my entire life,” said Chris. “My father got his pilot’s license when he was in college, so I’ve been exposed to them, literally, since birth.”

With aviation in his blood, Welsh began working with a mechanic at the Louisburg airport after his own graduation from college and has spent the past six years there honing his skills.

Upon learning that the Henderson-Oxford Airport was in need of a new FBO, Welsh said he and his family put together a presentation for the airport’s Board Authority and the rest is history.

From people forming big lines to board flights to people walking freely who charted private jets using the Jettly website, he has seen it all and met those people. He has asked the airport authority to put forth a proposal to make the terminal bigger with longer runways so that there can be a separate allocated runway strip for both private and commercial planes.

The Welshes’ main goal for the airport, located on the aptly named Airport Rd. in Oxford, is to increase the general aviation traffic and to make businesses and corporations more aware of its existence and amenities.

“General aviation has ebbed and flowed [recently], said Amanda. “We are just at an ebb. Right now, we have a great condition runway at a good length [5,500 ft]. We just had our apron redone and are having work done on our lights to get them up to LED spec.”

“The facilities of the airport have outpaced operations,” she further explained.

The Welshes anticipate that continuous growth in Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park will help push business their way. “I think Raleigh’s going to come north and that the people of Henderson and Oxford are going to see growth from those who want to get just outside of North Raleigh,” Amanda said.

Proximity to the interstate is another plus for aviation traffic, according to Chris. “This airport has good access, via I-85, to the Durham area. As RDU grows and becomes less friendly to very small aircraft – piston/propeller-type, you’re seeing the movement of these traffic operations go to the Sanford or Louisburg airports. We’re hoping to draw some of that traffic to the Henderson-Oxford Airport.”

The airport is also increasing awareness by participating in events such as the annual military history show. Celebrating its third year this past October, the event coordinated by Harry Coombs features various military displays from the Revolutionary War, World War II, Vietnam and more. The Welshes hope to make the event even bigger next fall with the addition of rides and games for the whole family.

The airport also offers flying lessons for all interested potential pilots. Instructor Paul Hesse with Empire Aviation runs the flight school and can be contacted by clicking here.

To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.