NCWV Airport Surpasses 10,000 Passenger Total for Year; Qualifies for $1 Million Subsidy from FAA
By Jeff Toquinto on June 17, 2015 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
For the second straight year, the North Central West Virginia Airport has surpassed the 10,000 passenger threshold with more than half 
of the year remaining. Airport Director Rick Rock confirmed today to the Benedum Airport Authority – the airport’s governing body – that as of June 8 more than 10,000 passengers had flown out of the Bridgeport facility.
of the year remaining. Airport Director Rick Rock confirmed today to the Benedum Airport Authority – the airport’s governing body – that as of June 8 more than 10,000 passengers had flown out of the Bridgeport facility.
Through the end of May, the airport had 9,541 enplanements. The Monday flight on June 8, which was the second flight to Myrtle Beach as part of the new destination service, pushed the airport over the magic mark.
While 10,000 may seem like an arbitrary numbers, it’s not. The number is the plateau the airport must meet each year to qualify for a $1 million subsidy from the FAA under the Airport Improvement Projects (AIP) program. If the program remains in place, the airport will be able to use the money for needed improvement as well as required upgrades to the airport and its property. 
The recently completed near $1 million terminal upgrade was handled through AIP funds as the result of surpassing the 10,000 passenger mark in previous years.
The recently completed near $1 million terminal upgrade was handled through AIP funds as the result of surpassing the 10,000 passenger mark in previous years.
“We’re actually down 272 (passengers) from this time last year,” Rock said. “Once we get the full month of June in we’re projecting that we’ll be 800 passengers ahead of where we were last year.”
The twice-weekly Myrtle Beach flight, which runs from June 5 to August 17, has been a huge boost to the numbers. The airport has received an ever larger boost from twice weekly flights to Orlando. Both of the destination flights are being offered by Allegiant Airlines.
Authority member Mike Romano offered praise for the work being done by Rock and his staff. He said that there were years that getting to 4,000 was difficult.
“You guys are doing a hell of a job,” said Romano. “ … I just the work is fantastic.”
The topic was one of several addressed by the Authority during their monthly meeting today. Also today, the Authority:
- Approved an engineering contract for $16,500 with MSES of Clarksburg. MSES will be handling a storm drainage issue, said Rock. They were the lowest of three bids received with the other two bids coming from E.L. Robinson and Hornor Brothers. Rock was hesitant to estimate what he believes the fix will cost until MSES completes the engineering work needed to determine the scope of the issue and options to fix it.
- Was requested by Authority member Roger Diaz to send a second letter to Silver Airlines’ CEO about concerns the airport has with the daily flight service provide to Washington Dulles International Airport. The first letter has not yet been responded to, according to Rock. A second letter is to be sent if Rock does not hear back from the CEO or Silver officials by the end of the week.
- Diaz said he and Authority Attorney Dean Ramsey have finished up work on revised by-laws. They are now up for review and Authority President Ron Watson hopes that a review and potential approval will be completed by the Authority at the July meeting.
- Approved the 2015-16 fiscal year budget.
- Learned that the work on the airport’s Master Plan Update is complete. Airport Engineer Chad Biller of the Thrasher Group said that a meeting with the Authority and a public presentation should be made in July. Dates for neither were established today.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Airport Authority President Ron Watson, right, and Authority member Mike Romano, while Authority member Roger Diaz is pictured below.
