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Airport From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Western Carolina Regional Airport (ICAO: KRHP, FAA LID: RHP) is a county-owned public-use airport located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the central business district of Andrews, in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States.[2][3] It was formerly known as Andrews-Murphy Airport.[4]
Western Carolina Regional Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Cherokee County | ||||||||||
| Operator | Managing FBO Gayland Trull (70) | ||||||||||
| Serves | Andrews, North Carolina | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,697 ft / 517 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°11′43″N 083°51′47″W | ||||||||||
| Website | westerncarolinaregional | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  RHP Location of Western Carolina Regional Airport | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2020) | |||||||||||
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Although many U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, this facility is assigned RHP by the FAA and has no assignment from the IATA[5] (which assigned RHP to Ramechhap, Nepal[6]). The airport's ICAO identifier is KRHP.[3]
In May 1945, a meeting at the Cherokee County Courthouse about constructing an airport drew around 200 people. Sites considered for the airport included land in Peachtree and a strip along the Hiwassee River in Murphy, but Edgar Augustus Wood Sr.’s property in Marble was most highly recommended.[7] The airport was constructed in 1946 by Wood and colloquially known as Wood Field after its owner.[8] It opened with a grass runway.[9]
In the early 1960s, the airfield was regularly used by Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates, Burlington Industries, and the chicken industry. The U.S. Army and U.S. Forest Service used the airport as a base of operations for training and fire spotting respectively. In 1963 the road to the airport and parking lot were paved. In October of that year the first turboprop aircraft, a Grumman Gulfstream, landed at the airport.[10]
The airport was purchased by Cherokee County in 1969 and renamed Andrews-Murphy Airport.[8] That year the runway was lit and paved to accommodate larger jets.[11] In 1999, the airport expanded, purchasing 18.1 acres from Robert and Evelyn Heaton for $252,000.[12] In 2009, the airport was again renamed Western Carolina Regional Airport.[8] In 2017, the airport terminal was named after local US Navy aviation veteran and longtime airport manager, Mr. Richard Parker.[13]
As of 2023, Western Carolina Regional Airport supports 290 jobs and has a total annual economic output of more than $57 million. It results in personal income of more than $20 million per year in Cherokee and surrounding counties.[9]
Western Carolina Regional Airport covers an area of 206 acres (83 ha) at an elevation of 1,697 feet (517 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 8/26 with an asphalt surface measuring 5,500 by 100 feet (1,676 x 30 m).[2]
For the 12-month period ending May 24, 2020, the airport had 20,500 aircraft operations, an average of 56 per day: 92% general aviation, 5% air taxi, and 2% military. At that time there were 43 aircraft based at this airport: 37 single-engine, 4 multi-engine and 1 helicopter.[3]
There have been discussions about constructing a new terminal at the airport since at least 2014.[14]
The KRHP service features tie-down and hangar space as well as fuel and service: 100LL, JET-A, JET-A1+.
Companies that regularly use the airport include NetJets, Snap-On, and Moog Inc. Chris Williams has been the airport’s manager since March 2023.[9]
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