On October 20, the Alabama Department of Transportation Aeronautics Bureau informed the Perry County Airport & Industrial Authority that the operating license for Vaiden Airport had been suspended. Following an annual inspection conducted on September 17, the airport is prohibited from operating under Code of Alabama 23-1-375 until deficiencies at the air field are addressed.
Among the violations cited in the inspection were: trees obstructed the approach and departure path; tall grasses and weeds north of Runway 16’s approach path; severely faded runway markings; a wind direction indicator that is out of compliance; no operable airfield lighting; weeds growing on some apron surfaces; out-of-date fire extinguishers in the fueling area; and evidence of unauthorized access that caused damage to the airfield.
The damage in question was tire marks found on one of the runways, where it was evident someone had been doing ‘doughnuts’ with their vehicle. The unattended airport currently has no security gate. Additionally, a trailer was left on a hangar apron along with broken pieces of light globes and other components, posing a foreign object danger (FOD). A NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) has been issued closing the airport to nighttime operations, due to all lights on the air field being inoperable at the time of inspection. The light conditions only met the state’s standards for daytime Visual Flight Rules (VFR) use only.
The wind indicator, or windsock, in particular was once in compliance when it was located in a field west of the runways, visible to air traffic. The current wind indicator is now located at the main apron hangar, and has been there for at least a year.
Donald Bennett, Sr., chairman of the Perry County Airport & Industrial Authority, issued a public statement via Facebook on Tuesday announcing that the “newly restructured [Airport and Industrial Authority] Board reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on September 10, 2025, to introduce our new leadership team and request a comprehensive inspection of Vaiden Field.”
This statement is similar to one made by Bennett during a July 8, 2024, meeting of the PCAIA, when asked about the airport’s standing in regards to securing federal monies following a lapse into noncompliance with the FAA: “I got a call from the other day from the FAA, that said ‘Give me an update on where you are with the Corrective Action Plan,’ and I believe they’re ready to start making some moves so we can start getting that cleared up.”
In his Facebook post this week, Bennett went on to list both Community Infrastructure Grant funding and 2026 Congressional Direct Spend funding as monies the PCAIA has applied for to address deficiencies, and announced there is a scheduled meeting between ALDOT and PCAIA to be held at Marion Military Institute.
“Our strategy prioritizes financial stabilization first, then diverse funding sources to address compliance while building toward long-term sustainability through economic development,” said Bennett on the PCAIA’s current strategy.
The last cited significant updates to the airport were a federally-funded runway rehabilitation project in 2019, with an approximate cost of $600,000. Following a partnership with Aero-Pro, which also manages Craig Field in Selma, the pilot’s lounge was treated for mold issues twice.
At both the July 2024 meeting and in current statements, Bennett has discussed his plans for development of the facility, mainly through investment by third-party businesses seeking to use the airport. Bennett, who has announced a run against Chairman Albert Turner, Jr., for the District 1 seat on the Perry County Commission, pushed back against claims made by the Chairman that categorized the current PCAIA as “non-functional.”
“I ask whether the current commissioner has worked with our board to recruit industry to the 480-acre site. This question highlights precisely the issue: the lack of collaborative engagement from county leadership with existing economic development entities,” said Bennett.
This statement came after Turner proposed a reorganization of the Economic Development Board, for which Bennett is positioned as the Economic Developer for Perry County with the Alabama Commerce Department’s Rural Division.
This is a developing story. The Times-Standard Herald will continue coverage of this situation as it develops.
