Perhaps it was a bit of irony, or maybe even a positive sign, that as Benedum Airport Authority member Mike Romano was reading a complimentary letter sent by a group traveling recently with the Texas Christian University football team that another Big 12 football team was landing at the North Central West Virginia Airport.

 

Last week, NCWV Director Rick Rock received a letter ATX Air Services out of Fort Worth, Texas. ATX is the company that flew a Boeing 737-700 into Bridgeport on Nov. 1 with 84 supporters and boosters of the TCU program. As briefly mentioned on Connect-Bridgeport in a story on Nov. 9 (Click HERE for that story) TCU’s associate athletic director raving about his team’s treatment while in the city, ATX’s General Manager Scott Bohnenkamp took the time to also talk about his time in the city.

 

ATX, which is a subsidiary of Hillwood Development, a Ross Perot company, was responsible for flying the plane in that morning with plans to depart that evening. However, as mentioned in the above linked story, as the plane departed it experienced maintenance issues that not only forced the flight to land back in Bridgeport, but to have to unexpectedly have all 84 passengers and crew members spend the night.

 

In the letter (a copy of which is below), Bohnenkamp raved about the ground grew of the airport’s V1 Aviation. V1 is the airport FBO, or Fixed Based Operations, that meets customers’ need beyond those utilizing commercial service. Rock said the FBO deals with the Big 12 charters, those traveling with oil and gas companies, military and the aerospace companies at or near the airport among others.

 

“It’s recognition for a job well done and the hard work our guys do,” said Rock. “We stress to the staff that we want to be the face that welcomes travelers into our state and they did a great job in doing that. I’m very appreciative to hear back from ATX.”

 

Robert “Buck” Thompson, who handles monthly updates on V1 services, also applauded the efforts of staff.

 

“They’re not just eight hour people,” said Thompson, a long-time member of the Authority, which governs the airport. “They are the ones that are always there when they are needed.”

 

TCU not only flew into Bridgeport, but stayed at the nearby Bridgeport Conference Center. Baylor University did that earlier this year. Oklahoma and today’s flight from Kansas State flew into Bridgeport – as opposed to flying into Pittsburgh and staying in Pennsylvania – in 2012. Rock said KSU was staying at the Waterfront Hotel in Morgantown, which is where the Sooners also stayed.

 

In other business by the Authority:

 

- Approved a $5,000 contribution to the United Way - $2,500 to each agency in Harrison and Marion counties – following a presentation by Tom Rhine and Tina Kopp.

 

- Continued discussion on a new sign to the Benedum Industrial Park entrance along U.S. Route 50 near the entrance to Crystal Ridge and Heritage Farms. Although nothing was finalized, officials appear to be serious about making a significant change to that entrance on a subject that has been discussed for decades.

 

- Approved a three-year contract with Perry & Associates, CPA’s out of Marietta, Ohio with offices also in Parkersburg, to handle the airport’s annual audits. There were two bids on the audit and Perry’s bid of $5,880 was substantially less than the other bid of $14,450.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Kansas State players, staff departing their charter flight and boarding buses after landing today at the NCWV Airport. Airport  Director Rick Rock talks about the positive experiences teams have had flying in and out of Bridgeport in the middle photo, while a Monongalia County Sheriff's Department convoy leads the buses from Bridgeport to their hotel in Morgantown. Bottom photo is the letter from ATX.