Moore County Airport (North Carolina)

Moore County Airport
IATA: SOP – ICAO: KSOP – FAA LID: SOP
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Moore County
Operator Moore County Airport Authority
Location Whispering Pines, North Carolina
Elevation AMSL 461 ft / 140.5 m
Coordinates 35°14′14″N 79°23′28″W / 35.23722°N 79.39111°W / 35.23722; -79.39111Coordinates: 35°14′14″N 79°23′28″W / 35.23722°N 79.39111°W / 35.23722; -79.39111
Website MooreCountyAirport.com
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 6,502 1,982 Asphalt

Moore County Airport (IATA: SOP, ICAO: KSOP, FAA LID: SOP) is a public airport located 3 miles (5 km) north of Southern Pines and 5 miles northeast of Pinehurst, in Moore County, North Carolina, USA. The airport covers 500 acres (202 ha) and has one runway, in the past it had a grass runway. The current runway is paved, 6,502 feet long and 150 feet wide. The airport is used for general aviation, however it has had commercial air service, through US Airways affiliate CCAir, which ceased in 2002 as an economic result of the 9/11 attacks and Delta Airlines which managed to continue, eventually ceased in 2007.

On November 23, 2007, Delta Air Lines ended its seasonal service to Atlanta citing "poor load factors" and "insufficient facilities". A local task force did recently state that it would actively pursue a new carrier to serve the major golf destination, but so far no airlines have stated serious interest in returning.[3]

Relationship with Whispering Pines

Most of the Moore County Airport property lies within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Whispering Pines, NC, prompting debate over who had ultimate regulatory power over it — the village of Whispering Pines or the Moore County Airport Authority. Because of this, the Airport Authority and the Whispering Pines Village Council have butted heads on occasion.

The rift was exacerbated by the Airport Authority's $2 million proposal which was approved by lawmakers, to build several large hangars using taxpayer funds to better serve its local customers. There was some concern within the village that the hangars would attract more aircraft and create additional noise. As a result, the Whispering Pines Village Council hinted at its desire to limit the airport's growth, and therefore stunt the economic growth of the Sandhills and stall job growth.[4]

However, a recent court ruling said the village had no legal jurisdiction over the airport because it operates under an independent authority that was established in 1993. Whispering Pines decided sensibly not to appeal the ruling as a result.[5]

References

External links

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