Local Airport Data Highlights Access, Medical and Economic Benefits

Wendell H. Ford Airport, FAA identifier CPF, serves Hazard and Perry County as the area public general aviation airport and now has a consolidated facility page on AirNav that brings key operational information to a local audience. The page lists the airport coordinates at approximately 37.38736 north and 83.26170 west, and an elevation of about 1,256.8 feet. It also includes operational notes, lighting information and runway guidance along with other pilot oriented details that are practical for day to day planning.

For residents and local officials the value of a single accessible resource is straightforward. Businesses evaluating aviation access for suppliers or executives can use the coordinate and runway guidance information to assess feasibility. Medevac and medical transport planners can reference the lighting and operational notes when determining response routes and turnaround capabilities. Pilots and flight operators benefit from the consolidated access to navigational details and local advisories that affect flight planning and safety.

Small general aviation airports like Wendell H. Ford play a disproportionate role in rural connectivity, enabling emergency medical retrievals, business travel that supports local employers, and limited cargo or charter services that conventional surface infrastructure may not accommodate quickly. The presence of lighting and runway guidance information on the facility page can inform whether the airport supports operations in low light conditions, which in turn affects the availability of time sensitive services such as critical care transfers.

There are also implications for local economic development. Reliable data on aviation assets helps position Perry County when courting investment that values rapid regional access. Economic development partners reviewing the AirNav profile gain a clearer sense of the airport footprint when modeling site selection, workforce mobility, or tourism opportunities. Local leaders can use the information to prioritize investments in maintenance, runway upgrades or navigational aids that could expand operational hours and increase the airport utility to businesses and health care providers.

Policy considerations include routine capital upkeep and coordination with state and federal grant programs to maintain or enhance facility capabilities. Accurate, public facing facility information reduces friction for pilots and planners and supports coordination across emergency services and private operators. For Perry County, keeping the airport profile current and leveraging it in economic pitches can help translate aviation access into measurable benefits in response times, business attraction, and broader connectivity for residents.