City Airport Lands $1M Federal Grant

By Cassie Shaner, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

Jun. 12–Morgantown Municipal Airport will receive $1 million in Essential Air Service funding Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., announced.

The congressionally mandated Essential Air Service program provides a federal subsidy to rural, community airports through the Federal Aviation Administration. Airports that achieve 10,000 annual enplanements (passengers) receive $1 million in funding for capital improvements that contribute to safety, security and efficiency. Airports that fall below that mark receive just $150,000.

The airport achieved more than 10,000 enplanements in 2006.

Airport Director Bob Hammel said the money will be used for four projects approved by the FAA as part of the airport’s annual capital improvement plan. The airport’s architecture and engineering firm, Alpha Associates Inc., plans to seek bids on each project starting July 15, Hammel said.

First, the airport plans to examine drainage areas on airport property and do any necessary maintenance work. Second, Hammel said, the airport will fulfill a West Virginia Division of Natural Resources requirement by conducting a wildlife-management study.

Third, the airport will “rehabilitate” the south ramp and taxiway areas. Hammel said the surface of the taxiway has “deteriorated a little bit,” much like a highway, and needs to be repaired.

The final project will be a renovation of the airport’s south terminal. Renovations include the creation of a front terminal corridor, expansion of Voyagers Restaurant and the development of a post-screening waiting area. The additional waiting area will allow departing travelers to pass through Transportation Security Administration screening prior to an airplane’s arrival at the airport.

“It is crucial that we continue strengthening our state’s aviation system, and that we make sure our airports run smoothly for the people who rely on them every day,” Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee on Commerce, said in the press release.

Hammel said additional work still needs to be done that cannot be completed with the $1 million. Next year he hopes to replace old furniture in the passenger waiting areas and renovate the north end of the terminal.

“There’s so much stuff to be done, you just can’t do it all with $1 million,” Hammel said.

Hammel was confident the airport could overcome a two-month disruption of service earlier this year and reach the 10,000 enplanements necessary to secure Essential Air Service funding for 2007. Virginia-based Colgan Air Inc. began offering US Airways Express service in Morgantown on May 1, after former operator RegionsAir was forced to ground all flights in March by the FAA.

Last week, Colgan Air Inc. reported 346 passengers during its first month of service in May, just five fewer than the total number of enplanements in the previous four months combined. Hammel has said Morgantown needs a minimum of 28 passengers per day to obtain Essential Air Service funding for 2007.

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