Research Flights
Purpose & Eligibility
The Office of the Vice President for Research will pay for Air Transportation Services (ATS) seats, on specially designated flights, for researchers and administrators traveling to Washington, D.C.-area sponsors (government or private sector) for the purpose of securing or extending sponsored support. This is NOT to be used for travel to conferences, private business, etcetera.
Users must bear in mind that this is not a commercial service and is not supported by the kind of reservation system enjoyed by commercial carriers. If the traveler is not willing to schedule meetings based on this quasi-stand-by system, he/she should consider renting a motorpool car or traveling by commercial carrier.
Period of Service:
The service will continue to be provided on alternate Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Cost:
The Office of the Vice President for Research is underwriting the fares of faculty and administrators conducting business that is expected to lead to new or continued sponsor support. However, departments of travelers who make reservations but don't show up for the flight and don't give adequate cancellation notice (see below) will be charged $600 for the cost of the flight.
Reservations
4-5 seats per flight will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. A seat may be reserved by calling up to 5:00 p.m. of the Friday preceding the desired Tues./Weds. date. For details about flight availability and to make reservations, contact the ATS dispatcher, Regina Young, at 231-4444.
The passenger will be asked to indicate the destination agency/sponsor and reason for the visit so that we can track how the resource is being used. A waiting list will be maintained if necessary. Because the The Office of the Vice President for Research is funding this initiative, it reserves the right to prioritize passenger requests to meet its goals.
Cancellations:
University policy mandates that no flights will be made with fewer than three passengers. We want to fly a full plane each week. Because of the limited number of available seats, we ask traveler cooperation to promptly notify the airport dispatcher of trip cancellations so that wait-listed passengers may have a chance to fly in their place. Cancellation notices must be given to dispatcher within 48 hours before flight time.
Weather-Related Flight Cancellations: Contact the ATS dispatcher, Regina Young, at 231-4444.
Destination:
Landing reservations will be made at Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Virginia (just outside Washington, D.C.).
Schedule
Passengers are requested to be at the Tech airport at 7:15 a.m. (depending on destination airport and ground traffic, passengers may expect to arrive in DC between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.). Passengers are expected to be at the same private-craft terminal (Hawthorne) of their morning arrival by 4:30 p.m. for return to Blacksburg by 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Fall Research Flight Schedule
September - December, 2009
September
- Thursday, September 10
- Tuesday, September 15
- Wednesday, September 23
October
Due to scheduled aircraft maintenance, plane not available 10-01 - 10-23-09
- Tuesday, October 27
November
- Wednesday, November 4
- Wednesday, November 11
- Tuesday, November 17
December
- Wednesday, December 2
- Tuesday, December 8
- Wednesday, December 16