5.1-31 - Authority to acquire, construct, maintain and operate; permission of Department required. - Virginia Statutes

§ 5.1-31. Authority to acquire, construct, maintain and operate; permissionof Department required.

All cities, incorporated towns and counties of the Commonwealth may acquire,by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation or otherwise, within or without thelimits of any such city, town or county, whatever land may be reasonablynecessary for the purpose of establishing, constructing, owning, controlling,leasing, equipping, improving, maintaining and operating airports for the useof airplanes; may acquire, establish, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain,equip, operate and regulate the use of such airports or landing fields,structures, air navigation facilities and other property incident thereto;may make, prior to such acquisition, investigation, surveys and plans andenter upon any lands or waters for such purposes; may construct, install,maintain and operate facilities for the servicing of aircraft, and for theaccommodation and comfort of air travelers; may purchase and sell equipmentand supplies as an incident to the operation of its airport properties;provided, that in the case of any county, the exercise of such authoritybeyond its territorial boundaries shall be only with the consent of thegoverning body of the political subdivision in which the power is sought tobe exercised; provided, however, that no such city, town or county shallestablish or operate any airport without first obtaining the permission ofthe Board, as now or hereafter provided by law.

The governing body of a county, city, or town may create an airport authoritythat shall be empowered on behalf of such county, city, or town to have andexercise the powers and rights set out in this section.

(Code 1950, §§ 5-20, 5-29; 1966, c. 576; 1979, c. 272; 1995, c. 453.)