ALDOT reinstates operating license at Vaiden Field in Perry County

Vaiden Field Airport has officially regained its operating license after the Alabama Department of Transportation confirmed that all previously cited safety deficiencies have been corrected.

ALDOT suspended Vaiden's license in October after an inspection in September found several violations from repeat findings.

Frank Farmer, chief of ALDOT’s Aeronautics Bureau, announced the license reinstatement during an Airport Improvement Planning Meeting on March 24. He confirmed that brush and small trees obstructing safety areas had been cleared, the wind direction indicator is fully operational and all inspection issues have been resolved. ALDOT will issue a formal license certificate and inspection summary for public posting in the coming weeks.

Airport Authority Chairman Donald Bennett said the reinstatement is a turning point that reflects progress made and the work still ahead. 

“We’re getting confidence,” Bennett said. “ALDOT stated that we have put in the work to accomplish the deficiencies they identified. They can see we have a plan for development and continued growth.”

Perry County Airport and Industrial Authority has spent years working to stabilize the airport’s finances, restore regulatory compliance and rebuild confidence among state and federal partners.

When Bennett took over leadership in November 2020, the airport was in deep financial distress with $840,000 in debt, a bank lien, frozen FAA grants and threat of foreclosure. The authority filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy, which Bennett said was a strategic move that included a forbearance agreement with Marion Community Bank and a path to repay creditors and contractors.

Addressing the safety deficiencies made federal funding available again. Vaiden Field has now secured $400,000 in federal appropriations through Sen. Katie Britt’s office for capital improvements, including runway markings, taxiway markings and shoulder grading. An engineering firm will be hired to manage the work, with ALDOT providing guidance on consultant selection.

The airport also recently received a $276,000 SEEDS assessment grant from the Alabama Department of Commerce to evaluate long-term development opportunities at the airfield.

Vaiden Field could also re-enter the FAA’s annual operating expense funding cycle by next year that would bring $125,000 to $150,000 per year.

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Bennett said the authority is in discussions with a potential fixed-base operator, or FBO, and is exploring opportunities such as aircraft maintenance, repair and painting operations firms. New revenue additions could also come with added hangars, expanded fuel sales and emergency diversion capacity for larger airports.

He also sees strong potential for regional collaboration with Craig Field in Selma and Demopolis Municipal Airport. “We’re looking at the entire region. How can we benefit each other to get more people coming to the Black Belt?”

Vaiden Field’s proximity to Tuscaloosa could make it an attractive landing option during major sporting events, especially for travelers seeking to avoid congestion at larger airports, he added.

Bennett said the airport’s progress is intertwined with ongoing revitalization efforts in downtown Marion, including Main Street’s recent Innovate Alabama grant and plans to expand the business incubator and develop loft-style accommodations.

“This is a destination,” Bennett said. “As we continue improving the airport and downtown, we’re creating amenities that make people want to come here.”

He also confirmed that the company purchasing the former Judson College campus, a pharmaceutical firm, sees Vaiden Field as a strategic asset for future distribution needs.

“Could you imagine flying pharmaceuticals right out of Vaiden?” Bennett said. “That would be phenomenal for the field and for Perry County.”

With its license reinstated, its finances stabilized and new funding secured, Vaiden Field Airport is positioned for its most ambitious chapter in decades. Bennett said the authority is committed to continuing the work.

“We’ve met the requirements to be fully operational,” he said. “But we’re not done. There’s so much opportunity for development, and we’re going to keep building on this momentum.”