Published: November 10, 2007 08:22 pm            

Now departing: Commercial air service

BLUEFIELD — Mercer County’s airport is losing its commercial air service Monday, but area officials continue to push for renewed service while stressing the airport’s important role in the region.

Colgan Air informed the Mercer County Airport Authority in mid-August that the last day of air service would be Monday, Nov. 12. The company cited in a letter to the authority that it planned to replace the Beech 1900, the aircraft it flew at the airport, with the larger Saab-340. Company officials said the Saab’s operational performance “severely limits the aircraft’s ability to carry a proper payload in a safe manner.”

The Beech 1900 carries 19 passengers and the Saab-340 carries 30, Bluefield business person and private pilot Bill Cole said at that time. He said he believed the Saab could fly at the county airport.

Another factor in keeping air service revolved around an essential air service subsidy supplied by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Under this program, air carriers willing to serve rural areas were awarded a subsidy. Airport Authority President Charlie Peters said the Mercer airport lost this subsidy last year.

Colgan once used Pittsburgh as its central hub, the facility where local passengers could board flights to other destinations. When Colgan switched its hub from Pittsburgh to the airport in Charlotte, N.C., federal authorities ruled that the Mercer County Airport was too close to a major airport; this disqualified it for the federal subsidy, Peters said. The Raleigh County Airport near Beckley remained far enough from Charlotte to keep its funding.

Colgan’s departure means that local authorities must seek new options, Peters said.

“We have to work now and see what we can do. We just start out on a new venture to see what we can do to get some new air service,” he said. “More than anything else, we need to work on getting an air subsidy.”

The local airport authority and area chambers of commerce are encouraging residents to contact their representatives in Congress about the airport’s importance and the need for a new air subsidy, said authority board member Barry Wiley.

“It (airport) has an economic impact on our area,” Wiley said. “That makes it both a local and a state issue, not purely a federal decision.”

Members of Congress contacted by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph expressed support for the local airport, but said that getting new funding would not be easy.

“For years, I have worked with community leaders and the airlines to keep commercial air service going in Mercer County,” said U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. “It’s very disappointing to me that the airport no longer qualifies for subsidies under the Essential Air Service program.”

“It would take a pretty significant change in the law that created the program — and an unprecedented increase in nationwide funding — to bring the subsidy back,” Rockefeller said. “We can’t and won’t give up on that, but in the meantime, we have to be open and creative about other ways to maximize this asset for the community. Some other West Virginia airports have faced the same challenge and been very successful at building a different kind of economic engine around air transportation.”

“I know Bluefield can do the same, even as we keep pushing to make the EAS program bigger and stronger in West Virginia,” he said.

U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., said he had contacted Colgan Air and expressed his strong desire that they remain a member of the Bluefield community.

“I have yet to receive a response, and am deeply disappointed by their decision to abandon Bluefield. I stand ready to work with the Bluefield community to seek additional air service for the Mercer County Airport,” Byrd said.

“Over the past two years, my office has worked with Mercer County Airport officials to arrive at a positive outcome on this important matter,” Byrd said.

Bills currently before Congress could help the situation, said U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall II, D-W.Va.

“I have been a fierce supporter of the Mercer County Airport,” Rahall said. “I am currently a co-sponsor of H.R. 3004, the Rural Aviation Improvement Act, which, if enacted, would increase the authorized cap for Essential Air Service subsidies and authorize a study of how the cap affects rural air service airports.”

Rahall said he also worked to include similar language in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill earlier this year that would have helped preserve service in Mercer County.

“Ultimately, the bill passed by the House contained the provision to authorize the study, but the house could not agree to additional language sought by a number of EAS airports, including Mercer County, to increase the subsidy cap,” Rahall said. “The future of the FAA bill now lies in the Senate. Should opportunities arise to further assist the Mercer County Airport or other legislation come before the House, rest assured, I will do all that I can to support it.”

Local leaders said air transportation is vital for economic growth.

“As we’ve all said, commercial air service is important for no other reason than it reinforces that our area is interested in doing business,” said Marc Meachum, executive director of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce. “So we just hope that the break in service we experience won’t be too long and we will be able to offer commercial air service in and out of Mercer County.”

Princeton Mayor Dewey Russell said the Princeton City Council may discuss the airport at its next meeting. He recalled a recent trip in which eight local leaders flew from Mercer County to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congressional leaders; this highlighted the airport’s value.

“It was so nice to get up one morning, go to Dulles (Washington) and fly back that same evening,” Russell said.

Peters said the airport will stay open for private aircraft and that ongoing renovations to its facilities were continuing. The fact the airport was remaining open for private planes helped soften the news of Colgan Air’s departure for one user.

“We’re very sad that it’s closing down,” Charlotte Newcomb of Global Outreach, an organization in Bramwell, said as she waited Thursday for her husband Steve to disembark from a Colgan plane. “For one thing, it’s convenient when we can’t make the drive to Charleston or Charlotte.”

Global Outreach sees a steady number of visitors, she said.

“When people come here for orientation or a meeting, we were starting to have them use the Bluefield airport. We don’t have the staff to take them to and from Charleston or Charlotte, so sometimes it’s very convenient.”

“Will it (airport) still be open for business?” Newcomb asked. “My sister’s husband just bought a plane and we’re looking forward to him flying here.” She was glad to learn it would still be possible.

One woman dropping off a friend said she wished the airline was not leaving.

“I will be very aggravated,” said Jessica Spencer of Bluefield, Va. “It’s convenient, especially with gas the way it is.”

Keeping commercial air service in Mercer County is vital to one ongoing project: creating a multipurpose center and equestrian park, said Bluefield City Manager Mark Henne.

“The public needs to be able to catch a commercial flight without having to drive two and a half hours,” Henne said. “We need to get that service back. This is not just about Bluefield. It’s also about Princeton and Mercer County.”

“We’re certainly disappointed that this has happened. When businesses look at an area, they look at available transportation,” said Bluefield Mayor Linda Whalen.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

        

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