Present, Past, & Future of Smith Reynolds Airport
Present
Organization
Smith Reynolds Airport (INT) is a public facility located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is owned and operated by the Airport Commission of Forsyth County (ACFC), which is an independant unit of the County of Forsyth (NC). ACFC consists of five commissioners appointed by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. Each Airport Commissioner is appointed to 2-year terms. One of the five commissioners is a sitting County Commissioner in the role of oversight. The terms of the other four Airport Commissioners are staggered to ensure continuity.
INT is operated by a staff of eight full-time employees. Administrative functions are performed by an Airport Director, a Deputy Airport Director, and an Administrative Coordinator. Maintenance functions for the entire facility are performed by an Airport Maintenance Supervisor and a team of three Maintenance Specialists. Because of its specialized nature, the 4001 N. Liberty Facility (the former Piedmont Airlines Headquarters and Maintenance Building) is maintained by a Facility Supervisor and a team of two Maintenance Specialists.
Airport Attributes
In terms of area, INT consists of approximately 700 acres in a region of Winston-Salem bordered roughly by North Liberty Street, Bowen Boulevard, Carver School Road, and several side streets connecting to 28th Street. INT operates two runways, one of which, Runway 15-33, is capable of handling practically any aircraft in use today, except for the Airbus A-380, which is redefining the term of airport capacity at all airports. Runway 15-33 is equipped with navigational equipment that is on par with the best civilian airports in the U.S. Presently, a project is underway to modernize the approach lighting system (rabbit lights). More specific information can be obtained from the General Aviation page.
Funding
INT is a self-sufficient facility from an operations perspective. All revenue for the operation of the facility is generated either through rental of property and buildings or through fuel-flowage fees and other user fees assessed to airport users. From a capital improvement perspective, INT is the beneficiary of Federal Aviation Administration grants that are channeled through the North Carolina Department of Transportation - Division of Aviation in a program known as "block grant funding". The FAA grants originate from the Aviation Trust Fund, which is, itself, funded from aviation user fees. Another avenue of capital funding is available directly from NCDOT-DOA. Aside from the occasional loan or bond referendum, no local tax dollars are used at INT.
Benefit to the Community
Aside from providing a safe, efficient, and convenient aviation facility to Winston-Salem, Forsyth County and the Western Piedmont, INT provides substantial benefits to the local community. Such benefits are as follows:
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Stimulus for Economic Development - For both large businesses and small businesses, INT close proximity to the economic regions of Forsyth and neighboring counties is an incentive for location/relocation of businesses, because it allows executives to travel efficiently, bypassing the problems associated with airline travel.
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Center for Employment - Despite the fact that the Airport Commission employs less than ten people, the companies who lease property and conduct business at INT employ several hundred people in well-paying jobs.
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Property Tax Revenue for City & County - Both the City of Winston-Salem and the County of Forsyth collect property tax on the aircraft and equipment based at INT. Rough estimates approximates the property tax to each entity as a result of INT to be near the $500,000 mark.
