It’s not the final step in the process, but the North Central West Virginia Airport and other rural airports nationwide got some good news Tuesday. The news, announced statewide by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), was that the United States Senate gave approval to the FAA Reauthorization Act.

 

Not only was the matter approved by the Senate, but it was overwhelmingly approved. The Senate passed the measure by a 95-3 vote.

 

“This FAA bill supports small airports, like the ones in West Virginia, and includes important protections for our nation’s general aviation pilots,” said Manchin. “Reliable air service has allowed businesses in our state to expand their reach beyond our borders, and I am pleased that protecting and promoting service to rural communities remains a priority in this package.”

 

Now the matter has to be approved by the House, which has the option of approving the Senate bill or merge it with one of their own. The fact that it passed so easily in the Senate is a good sign that something will soon officially be turned into law.

 

What that would mean locally is that through 2017 programs such as Essential Air Service (EAS) and the Airport Improvement Projects (AIP) will remain in place. The EAS program helps subsidize daily flight service from small airports to major hubs with connecting flights. The NCWV Airport currently has EAS with Silver Airlines for daily flights to Washington Dulles International. The airport also has received $1 million for the last several years in AIP funding to do projects at the airport.

 

AIP dollars of $1 million are available for reaching 10,000 passengers annually. NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock said that will almost certainly happen this year.

 

“We know we’re going to be close to 10,000 in May and we hope to be there in June when we begin our weekly flights to Myrtle Beach through Allegiant,” said Rock. “We were at 4,000 after just two months this year so we should easily reach the 10,000 mark again.”

 

The airport actually had 6,033 enplanements through March. That total is ahead of last year's pace of 5,894.

 

While the milestone is important and the approval of the Senate – and the potential approval of the House – are all good things, Rock said he’d like to see the reauthorization of the bill take some form where it’s extended several years. However, he said he’ll take this for now.

 

“This step, and hopefully final approval that will then be signed by our president, lets us know the rules as far as having EAS and AIP available and in place,” said Rock. “There’s stability in knowing that’s there, but we’d really like to see something long term. We have a great board (Airport Authority) that works hard and likes to plan things out and not knowing if funding or programs are going to be available year after year makes doing some projects and planning for them a much more difficult chore.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock, while the EAS-funded Silver Airlines is shown on the runway at the facility in Bridgeport.