By GINGER RAE DUNBAR, Daily Local News
Posted: Saturday, 06/22/13 06:22 pm
Updated: Saturday, 06/22/13 07:26 pm
VALLEY — Private property owners are balking at the removal of seven trees deemed a hazard to air navigation at G.O. Carlson Airport.
Airport Manager Gary Hudson said the Federal Aviation Administration, which governs airport regulations, said the fate of the trees is under review.
Township supervisors have asked airport authorities for funding to remove trees, saying they do not want homeowners to be responsible for the cost.
The trees have grown high enough to be a concern for airplanes taking off and landing, officials say.
Hudson said five of the trees are located on residential property. The other two are on another parcel, he said.
“I think they (airport authority) should be responsible for it,” said township supervisors’ Chairwoman Patrice Proctor.
Hudson said the topic of funding will be discussed with the Chester County Airport Authority, which operates the airport. The FAA study and decision on tree removal is due within months.
Source: http://www.dailylocal.com
By Cindy Ekas
Published: Saturday, June 22, 2013, 1:06 a.m.
The Fayette County Airport Authority is exploring the possibility of securing grant funding to market the Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport in Dunbar Township.
Authority member Matt Thomas asked board members this week if they wanted to try to market the airport in an effort to generate more business for the facility.
“This is something that we can do that won't cost the airport any money,” Thomas said. “We need to start looking for grants that we can apply for to help us market the airport. I think we need to apply for grants that don't require matching funds.”
If the airport authority could develop a successful marketing plan, Thomas said he believes the authority could actually start to raise additional money that could help to turn the airport's current financial situation around.
Authority member Fred Davis said he believes it would be a great idea if a video could be produced to promote the airport.
“The video would show the public what the airport has to offer,” Davis said.
Thomas said he wants the authority to work with Laurel Highlands Tourism and Fay-Penn Economic Development Council to market the facility.
Authority members said they also plan to contact the Fayette Chamber of Commerce to find out if the tourism channel is interested in producing a video that would highlight the facility.
“Maybe if we are successful at marketing the airport, we will have more money to operate the facility,” Thomas said. “It's not going to hurt. It can only help us.”
The airport has been struggling with serious financial problems since last year when the facility terminated its contract with former manager Mary Lou Fast.
Several months ago, the authority hired John “Buddy” Neckerauer as the new airport manager. Cathy Malago, who has extensive office and financial experience, was hired as the temporary office assistant.
Neckerauer and Malago have been working together with the authority to turn the airport's finances around.
“The airport has paid its outstanding bills, and we're moving in the right direction,” Davis said. “If we could get into a position where we could generate more money at the airport, our financial situation would continue to improve. Marketing the airport is a great way to put that plan into motion.”
Source: http://triblive.com
