🇺🇸 Eastern WV Regional Airport/Shepherd Field

Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport/Shepherd Field (MRB) is a general aviation (GA) airport located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, serving the Eastern Panhandle and nearby communities in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. It is West Virginia's largest airfield and GA leader, with the most based aircraft in the state,.

Notable Features and History: The airport's origins trace back to 1923 when the Shepherd Family offered land for an emergency landing field along the first designated airway from Washington to Cumberland. Citizens volunteered to prepare the field, which was later sold to the Berkeley Aviation Club and then deeded to the city of Martinsburg in 1934, becoming Martinsburg Municipal Airport. During the early 1940s, the primary runway was paved and extended to 5,000 feet to accommodate larger aircraft transporting patients during World War II. In the mid-1950s, it became the home of the West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Tactical Fighter Squadron, leading to significant expansion, including a runway extension to 7,015 feet. The airport's name was officially changed to "Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport/Shepherd Field" in the 1970s. In the 2000s, over $300 million in upgrades allowed the airport and base to host C-5 Galaxy aircraft, including runway expansion, new hangars, and an Air Traffic Control Tower.

Current Status: MRB is categorized by the FAA as a Reliever airport and is eligible for federal aviation funding. It features the longest, widest, and strongest runway in West Virginia, designed for large aircraft, and is frequently used by all branches of the military for training, including Presidential VIP transport. The West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing operates from MRB, conducting global strategic airlift operations.

The airport offers a fixed-base operation (FBO) and an in-house, FAA-Part 135-certified charter service under the "MRB Aviation" trade name. It also hosts two flight training companies, including an FAA Part 141-certified school. MRB provides services such as flightline services, transient hangar space, passenger/crew amenities, large aircraft support, aircraft management, and economic development opportunities. Fuel services include 100LL, JET-A, and JET-A++, with full service available during business hours and self-service for 100LL 24/7. The airport has hangars and tiedowns for parking, and offers major airframe and powerplant service. It also has a Foreign Trade Zone with over 160 acres of developable land.

*Sources researched: transportation.wv.gov, flymrb.com, linkedin.com, airnav.com*