Editor's Dispatch

Hampton Roads Executive Airport (KPVG) is a practical alternative to the congested Class C airspace over nearby Norfolk. Arriving traffic will find a generous 5,350 feet of grooved asphalt on the preferred Runway 10/28, backed by reliable instrument approaches. The field demands strict discipline. Pilots must constantly scan for a heavy volume of training helicopters flying a non-standard 677-foot AGL pattern, alongside a cluster of 1,000-foot towers just a mile and a half northwest. Ignore the secondary Runway 02/20 entirely, as its surface is heavily degraded by cracks and foreign object debris.

The Bowers Hill section of Chesapeake is a pure logistics corridor where major Mid-Atlantic highways converge. There is no resort-town charm or scenic coastline within walking distance; the immediate perimeter is defined by light industrial parks and heavy trucking routes. Instead, this field operates as a highly efficient general aviation haven designed for pilots who value low prices and fast turns over scenery. You land here because it makes operational sense.

The primary reason to cut the engine is Blue Skies Grille, operating out of the main terminal just steps from the ramp. The kitchen ignores the usual tired airport burger in favor of sharp, well-executed Jamaican jerk chicken tacos and heavy smoked brisket burritos. It caters exclusively to a lunch crowd, running a strict 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM schedule, Monday through Saturday. If you arrive late and the kitchen is dark, secure the FBO courtesy car and drive fourteen miles to Cutlass Grille, a local heavyweight turning out exceptional slow-smoked brisket and oxtail.

Hampton Roads Executive earns its keep as a purely utilitarian waypoint that respects your time. The 24-hour self-serve 100LL routinely undercuts the regional average, making it an obvious fuel stop before pushing further up the eastern seaboard. Time your arrival to hit the ramp by noon for the jerk chicken, but keep a sharp watch for the deer that frequently challenge the perimeter fence. Through the peak of summer, the Tidewater heat and humidity settle over the airfield, making this kind of frictionless, engine-off-to-eating turnaround exactly what a long cross-country flight requires.