All eyes of late have been focused on Moore County’s roads — and the rapid growth of orange construction barrels along them — but it’s growing clearer that the real future of local transportation may be above us.
The Moore County Airport, which turns 100 in just a few years, is increasingly becoming a transit hub upon which our tourism, military and professional services industries rely. And that’s not counting a rising number of private pilots seeking general aviation services.
Though it hasn’t offered commercial flights in almost 20 years, demand for the airport’s runway, hangars and services have been quietly growing to the point where folks are now taking notice. …
The desire remains to return commercial service to Moore County, even if just a couple days a week. A study conducted last year showed a potential regional market of about 1,300 people a day who travel to Raleigh, Fayetteville or another airport to catch flights. Cloutier said the airport is continuing to talk to airlines and consider its options and what could be sustained. Any plan would need considerable public input and confidence in how it’s paid for.
The airport has time to achieve all this, but the engine’s running and the winds right now are favorable. As an economic driver, the Moore County Airport could be a significant factor in lifting this community’s future.