Avery County Airport
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Avery County Airport Morrison Field | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Avery County Airport Authority | ||||||||||
| Serves | Spruce Pine, North Carolina; Newland, North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Location | Avery County, North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Opened | November 1962 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 2,745 ft / 836 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°56′43.3″N 81°59′46.4″W / 35.945361°N 81.996222°W | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  7A8 Location of airport in North Carolina | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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Avery County Airport (FAA LID: 7A8), also known as Morrison Field, is a public-use general aviation airport located in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. Situated 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Spruce Pine and 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Newland, the airport serves both Avery County and Mitchell County. It is owned by the Avery County Airport Authority.[1]
Avery County Airport features one 3,001-ft long asphalt runway designated 17/35, as well as a helipad measuring at 40 ft x 40 ft.[2] The airport offers 27 privately owned hangars, as well as private contractors who offer private air services, flying lessons and charter flights.[3]
Since 2016, the airport has undergone numerous renovations. These include improvements to its fueling systems, runway, and the Experimental Aircraft Association building located on the grounds.[3]
In 2018, the Avery County Airport Authority made cursory inquiries into resurfacing the runway to allow for landing heavier aircraft after the NC Air National Guard expressed interest in using the facility to conduct C-130 touch-and-go training exercises. The improved runway would also be used by US Marine Corps for vertical takeoff training for its V-22 Osprey aircraft, as has the NC Army National Guard for its helicopters stationed at Salisbury Airport.[1][3]
JAARS, a Christian mission aviation organization based in Union County, uses a grass area just east of the runway as a landing strip for pilot training.[2]