Warren County Airport Commission Transacts Routine Business at its Quarterly Meeting

“Situated amidst the scenic backdrop of the Shenandoah Valley,” its website reads, “the Front Royal-Warren County Airport (FRR) spans 90 acres, offering panoramic views of the Shenandoah River as it winds past the iconic Blue Ridge and Massanutten Mountains. Conveniently located, the airport is a mere three miles from Front Royal and a 15-mile drive from Winchester.”

The Front Royal-Warren County Airport anticipated exciting times ahead at the quarterly meeting of its commission, beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25, in a conference room located in a building at the airport. Many concerns faced the commission on its two-page agenda which it transacted speedily under the leadership of Paul Kosubinsky, the commission’s chairman. Despite its quarterly nature, the commission has recently averaged two meetings per year and would like to increase that number to four. In keeping with that goal, its next meeting will occur on January 22, and it is open to the public.

One of its top agenda items was the upcoming “Trunk or Treat” on October 19, in which children from the community will be invited to celebrate Halloween a little bit early with candy as well as a pancake breakfast, which will be served to anyone who might fly in. The commission discussed the possibility of children eating for free. They also prioritized safety concerns, imagining how young people might move about on the premises and which areas need to be roped off to prevent any accidents. Commissioner Sean Roe presented this portion of the meeting’s agenda.

Another top priority item was the Rules and Regulations Report, concerning a document that is updated on a reoccurring basis and represents all the rules and regulations pertaining to how the airport does business. The current iteration which is still under revision was submitted to the Board of Supervisors, to which the commission forwards its recommendations for approval or denial on various issues, on June 9, 2024, by Kosubinsky. Several board members requested further clarification and corrections to the document, hence, it is still under development. This portion of the meeting reached completion under the report of Vice-Chairman Erik van Weezendonk.

At one point in the evening’s discussion, Kosubinsky expressed his desire to keep the airport running as a place that serves the county’s need for convenience in air travel. To do so, certain improvements need to be made, whether regarding the size of the airport’s office complex or the availability of storage units that are used as they were leased to be used. Those improvements and others are not free. They require financial support from the state and federal levels. Kosubinsky lamented that he wishes he could make all those improvements tomorrow, but the reality is that the improvements will happen over time.

Before the meeting adjourned, the new ASN representative, Mary Ellen Brown, was thanked for the critical service she is providing. ASN stands for Airport Support Network, a program by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to protect and preserve airports in the United States. The goal of the program is to have an ASN volunteer at every public airport in the country. Board of Supervisors representative Jay Butler went out of his way to express to Brown his appreciation for what she is doing. After the airport’s tenants, those of whom who were present, were given the opportunity to make a report, and no further public comments being received, Kosubinsky adjourned the meeting.