For those that still aren’t convinced that the North Central West Virginia Airport is growing, a side effect of growth hit the Bridgeport facility this week. Airport Director Rick Rock was informed that the airport’s designation is going from a Category 4 to a Category 3.

 

What that means is that because of the number of passengers, types of planes, size of the aircraft and other factors, more stringent security measures are going to be required. In fact, the measures have to be in place for the start of the 2016 fiscal year. Rock actually suggested this may be coming at last month’s Benedum Airport Authority meeting and  at today’s meeting for September he told the Authority –the airport’s governing body – that it had happened.

 

“We should look at this as a good thing,” said Authority President Ron Watson.

 

The number of passengers and charters are key components of the need for the switch in categories. Currently, airport passenger totals are up 18 percent from this time last year and charters – primarily as a result of the Big 12 Conference – are booming.

 

Things will officially get started Sept. 29 with a 10 a.m. meeting involving airport officials and the TSA. Rock said that he’s already had preliminary discussions as to what to expect.

 

“Basically, we’ll have a full security program that is based on the growth of the airport as a result of the category change,” said Rock. “We’ll work through this process with the TSA for an effective program that they’ll eventually have to approve so it will be in depth.”
 

Rock wanted those currently using the airport to know they do have a security plan in place, but the new category means more stringent security measures. And that will come with a price tag.

 

“I would say with everything you’re looking at about $500,000 top end,” said Chad Biller, P.E., of the Thrasher Group that serves as the airport’s engineer.

 

Some of the things that will be needed are new security cameras, scanners, new methods of working with law enforcement, better control of access points, security coordination and more. Considering that many businesses have access to the airport property and directly to the runway, Rock said they’ll figure into the planning as well.

 

“We want the businesses involved. If you’re a stakeholder here, it’s critical and necessary to be involved,” Rock said. “It’s one of the advantages of growing and we’re aware it comes with a price.”

 

Some of the costs may be able to be offset with Airport Improvement Project (AIP) dollars that the airport has received annually – to the tune of $1 million – for surpassing 10,000 passengers or enplanements.

 

“The FAA has said to us that some of the minimum security requirements are eligible. We’ll work with the FAA and the TSA through this process to make sure we see what those funds can be utilized on,” said Rock.

 

The final security plan will not only be comprehensive, it won’t be available for public consumption. Rock said it’s classified and only seen by airport officials and the TSA.

 

“Obviously, the first priority here now and in the future is the safety of our passengers and this will further that,” said Rock.

 

Also today, the Authority heard that Rock will be traveling to Washington, D.C. Thursday with other state airport managers to meet with the Department of Transportation. They will be discussing concerns with essential air service that subsidizes daily flight service out of rural airports. Bridgeport, like many others in the state, is having difficulties meeting the requirements of the program due to multiple issues. Those issues, Rock said, will be brought up in Washington.

 

While Thursday is one trip, another trip is set for Oct. 20 through Oct. 22 when Rock will be in Arkansas at the annual Sixel Conference. Sixel is the airport’s consultant and the conference will bring Rock the ability to meet with multiple airlines about providing the aforementioned essential air service in the future or perhaps talk about adding additional destination service.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Authority President Ron Watson, while Airport Director Rick Rock is shown in the middle and Airport Engineer Chad Biller shown in bottom photo.