Latest news with #BenedumAirportAuthority
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Potential Trump cut to rural air service subsidy concerns Bridgeport Airport
FAIRMONT — President Donald Trump's proposed $300 million cut to the Essential Air Service could potentially impact North Central West Virginia Airport. The EAS program ensures communities with small populations, such as rural areas, have access to air carriers. Airport Director Rick Rock said there's about 160 airports that are part of the program, with about 100 in the lower 48 states and remaining amount in Alaska. The subject came up at the Benedum Airport Authority's meeting on Tuesday. 'We think that West Virginia is just as important as any major city in America,' Rock said. 'Through that program, we're able to have people connected directly to West Virginia. One of the biggest things we've had as we tried to promote economic development is how hard it is to get to West Virginia. Essential Air Service really improves it.' Trump's May 2 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 discretionary spending includes a $308 million cut to the EAS. The document accuses the EAS of paying for half empty flights from airports which are within commuting distance of each other. It also claims it fails to provide effective assistance to most rural air travelers. The Trump Administration claims spending on the program is out of control. In 2019, EAS cost $175 million and in 2021, a COVID year, spending was $142 million. In 2025, EAS spending reached around $600 million. A cursory review of online materials did not reveal a reason for the increase. Rock said the airport authority wants all programs to be efficient, but that the North Central West Virginia Airport has shown itself to be a success story due to EAS. The airport has done work to bring major figures in the aviation industry to the airport. 'I think that's some people's spin on it and they're trying to say why it shouldn't be,' he said, referring to the explanation for the cut in Trump's budget proposal. 'To me, it's the fact that in rural America we deserve to have opportunities that they have in urban America. I think that's what it comes down to.' Fees collected from foreign air services that fly through U.S. airspace by the Federal Aviation Administration pay for EAS, as well as money from the Airport and Airways Trust Fund. The fund collects excise taxes from domestic passenger ticket sales and other groups who use the country's aviation system. Rock said it's a small percentage of the U.S. budget. Benedum Airport Authority President David Hinkle doesn't expect a cut to the EAS to be an issue. The only issue he sees is if there's an increase in ticket prices, because EAS subsidizes those prices. But, it wouldn't affect what carriers come to the airport. The airport is working on bringing more routes to the airport. 'Unless it only affects the carrier, but they don't think it's financially viable for them,' Hinkle said. Hinkle said the board wants to eventually return flight service between Bridgeport and Chicago. They also don't want to lose service to Charlotte, North Carolina. The airport is awaiting bids from different carriers, so Hinkle is in a wait and see mode. If there is a reduction to EAS, air carriers will have to reevaluate what they can charge passengers while considering what price would be acceptable to travelers as well. The board also approved a lease from Longview, an oil and gas company to access some of the mineral resources under the airport. Rock said it will be a little additional revenue for the airport. Hinkle hopes the deal provides royalties for 15 to 20 years. 'What they do now is drill horizontally, so we have one lease where they'll come from south of the airport going north, and this one's going to come from the north and go south, and they'll meet each other,' Hinkle said. 'So it'll be two different companies drilling underneath airport property.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NCWV Airport Authority honors one of its own after death
BRIDGEPORT — The Benedum Airport Authority paid tribute to Burley 'Butch' Tennant Tuesday. Tennant, who was a member of the airport authority's board of directors, died March 14. 'He was a big believer in taking care of the people who work there,' Board Member Randy Elliott said. 'Common qualities he had we that the employees came first, and he made sure he voiced his opinion about that.' Elliott said Tennant always advocated for airport employees to receive bonuses every year at Christmas, particularly whenever the airport had a good year. Elliott said the airport authority does its work as a joint effort, with ideas about the direction of the airport emerging from its director Rick Rock. That said, the members of the board still chose to pass a resolution honoring Tennant's work at the airport authority. Marion County Commissioner Ernie VanGilder read the resolution. 'Burley D. 'Butch' Tennant Jr. was known for his constant and infectious smile,' VanGilder said. 'And his insightfulness and informing comments.' After memorializing Tennant, the group moved on to the rest of its business. Deputy Airport Director Shawn Long led the meeting since Rock was in Colorado for a conference. Rock met with four different airlines at the conference to make sure the North Central West Virginia Airport has multiple bids for this year's bid cycle. The U.S. Department of Transportation runs a program that seeks bids for Essential Air Service, vital for bringing airlines to service smaller and rural airports for communities like the one in Clarksburg. 'We wouldn't have air service daily if it wasn't for it,' Rock said. 'This is an opportunity for us. Our choices will be to keep what we have with Contour going to Charlotte or potentially see who else bids. Obviously, I'm looking to grow air service at airport, fill up our new terminal, so I'm making sure that we have multiple bids and something for us to go and review and pick the right one that will give us the best air service for North Central West Virginia.' Rock said American Airlines, United Airlines, Allegiant, Air Wisconsin and SkyWest Airlines were the carriers he met with. Rock also said he likes the service to Charlotte, but a route change is also possible, depending on what bids come in. The board also went into executive session to discuss litigation the airport is currently facing. Board President David Hinkle he wasn't sure which lawsuit the board would discuss ahead of the session, since the board is facing several. The board is currently facing five lawsuits from 2025. Two of them, Maple Lake Club and All About Dogs, have to do with the Move the Mountain project. Plaintiffs in those lawsuits allege the airport didn't appropriately manage runoff from the project leading to damage to the property of both of those entities. The other three lawsuits were filed around the same time as All About Dogs and Maple Lake. The most current action in the Maple Lake lawsuit was notice of a video-recorded deposition of Deputy Director Long. The cases continue to wind through the court system.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Benedum Airport Authority clears obstacle to Pierpont's $25M hangar classroom
Jan. 29—FAIRMONT — The Benedum Airport Authority cleared the way for the West Virginia Economic Development Authority to move forward on Pierpont Community and Technical College's $25 million Aviation Maintenance Program hangar classroom on Tuesday. "We gave them the option to purchase a piece of land to build the school," BAA Board President David Hinkle said. "So it's up to the West Virginia EDA to do due diligence on it and get the land from the Department of Highways and build the building." Hinkle said the BAA put up 2.63 acres of land belonging to the North Central West Virginia Airport up for sale. That alone won't be enough to begin construction as plans for Pierpont's new educational facility call for additional land currently owned by the Division of Highways. Hinkle said it's always been in the WVEDA's court to buy the land and build the building. The decision to put the stub of land up for sale came after the BAA took their regular board meeting behind closed doors to discuss property. Pierpont Community and Technical Director of Aviation Technology Brad Gilbert said the school has been in a holding pattern. The Jim Justice Administration approved $25 million for the hangar combination classroom nearly a year and half ago. It would allow Pierpont's Aviation Maintenance Program to expand from 130 students to 200. The building's footprint would be 70,000 square feet. Since then, the project has been dormant. "We've got a lot of students," Gilbert said. "We need more parking, more classrooms, more bathrooms." The proposed design features two high bay hangers, aviation-related specialty labs, including shops for turbine and reciprocating engine overhauls, flight controls and hydraulics, lecture classrooms, and a learning resource and testing center. According to Pierpont research, students who enter the aviation maintenance field can earn a median annual salary of $52,921 a year. Other data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows the hourly wage range from $17-to-$37 an hour with the proper Federal Aviation Administration-sanctioned training from Pierpont. Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex President Tracy Miller also provided a litmus test of how hot the state's aviation industry is right now. The state will be at the Australian Aerospace Show, which is an export show. What especially interests Miller in the development is the foreign direct investment component, saying Australian companies are interested in the opportunities available in North America. Although Miller will not be making the trip to the show, she will still do what she can to help the state's representation. "I will be working with them to make sure they have brochures and whatever is available so that our Aerotech Park is on their radar," she said. Miller said after the meeting that she wants to see more businesses move into the 80-acre Aerotech Park. West Virginia already has an office in Japan and has done trade shows in Europe. It also provides an opportunity for companies based in the state to export into new markets. Miller said Australia's aviation industry is in the Top 10 worldwide. According to Mordor Intelligence, the air transportation sector is worth $39 billion to Australia's GDP and plays a vital role in the country's economy. "They are looking to make investments in other parts of the world," Miller said. "So why not have Australian companies in the Wild and Wonderful?" Reach Esteban at efernandez@
