MORGANTOWN AIRPORT
Annual Report 2001

A flurry of activity will begin in January 2002, that will continue Morgantown Municipal Airport’s soaring flight into the future.

The Airport’s Master Plan contract is being negotiated with HNTB Corporation in Charleston. If awarded in January, the company will begin its process to provide the Airport and the City of Morgantown with a comprehensive Master Plan that will be sensitive to the needs of the community. The estimated cost is $156,000, with an expected completion date within 12 months. The goal for this program is to continue progress in developing the Airport to its fullest potential. This goal is realistic and achievable.

The Airport has several other strong initiatives at work. Beginning in March, Mark’s Construction Company in Clarksburg will begin construction of the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Building. Laurita Excavating in Morgantown also will begin work on the Taxiway A extension. Expected completion date for these two projects is near year’s end. Cost of these projects is close to $2.7 million.

The Airport is focusing intently on safety and security by installing security cameras where needed and a new electronic gate card system for access to the airside of the Airport.

The perimeter fencing project at the Airport is approximately 35 percent finished, with an anticipated completion in July 2002.

The most important progress the Morgantown Municipal Airport has experienced in the past 15 years is controlling the fuel for its customers.

The term “Fixed Base Operation” originated following World War I to describe the first aviation businesses that developed a permanent base of operations to deliver services at airports. The Morgantown Municipal Airport acquired its Fixed Base Operation on Nov. 1, 2000, and implemented a management system to build a strong foundation with results that have greatly surpassed our expectations. Gross profit for the FBO’s first year of operation was $503,973, and the net income totaled $215,963, as per the attached financial statement prepared by the Finance Department. This shows that the projected $57,845 profit for the first year of operation was significantly surpassed.

A large portion of the FBO’s profits to date have been reinvested in Airport improvements, such as refurbishing the pilot and customer lounges with new furniture; carpeting and bathroom fixtures; purchasing radio headsets for safer, more efficient communications; a fuel dispenser pump for the Fuel Farm; fuel testing equipment to insure the purity of the fuel; safety equipment such as reflective belts, vests, and raingear; and hazardous materials classes for the staff.

The well-trained, conscientious FBO staff provides routine aviation services to more than 100 customers daily. Among these services are fueling private, corporate, military, and commercial aircraft. In the first year of operation, the FBO staff refueled over 3,500 corporate, private, and military aircraft pumping over a half-million gallons of aviation fuel.

In addition to individualized catering services [food, hotel reservations, car rentals, and personalized transportation to and from nearby restaurants and hotels], the staff provides faxing and copying services for pilots and crew and aircraft supplies such as oil, batteries, sectional charts, and pilot logs. A computerized weather service is available for pilots and crew for pre-flight planning as well as area maps. In winter, deicing services are performed as required. The staff also directs pilots in safely parking aircraft on the apron and loads and unloads baggage. In the past 12 months, the FBO arranged for catered meals, rental cars, and hotel rooms for over 200 passengers and crew. Pilots and crew awaiting their passengers can relax in the comfortable, fully-furnished waiting area with satellite TV and assorted reading materials.

Currently the Airport is preparing for a new aviation fuel contract that will be out to bid in early February 2002.

Security levels on September 11, 2001 were heightened to level IV following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and this had a broad security and economic impact on the Morgantown Municipal Airport and its tenants. Beginning that date, air space was closed nationally at approximately 10:30 a.m. The Morgantown Municipal Airport was closed from Sept. 11-13. It reopened for commercial traffic on Friday, Sept. 14. Two flights daily from Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C. were discontinued as was one flight to Pittsburgh. General aviation travel was limited. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) were reinstated slowly while the FAA increased security. Visual Flight Rules (VFR) remained closed until mid-October.

Actions taken on Sept. 11 by the Morgantown Municipal Airport required halting construction work on the perimeter fence project that only began that morning; closing and locking all access to the airside limiting all access to pilots, T-hangar tenants and employees of the Airport and Air Corps; shutting and evacuating the terminal; doing a security sweep of all levels and rooms; and inspecting all rental cars recently delivered to the Airport.

The FAA Security Office in Pittsburgh also required a number of security measures be implemented prior to certifying theAirport to reopen.

The Airport had to eliminate parking within 300 feet of the terminal or take action to acquire a waiver. The Manager applied for and received a waiver. Access to the Airport by the main entrances was limited to the entrance off Hartman Run Road. The north entrance near the Mileground was barricaded. The Airport spent $7,000 on concrete barriers and an additional $1,500 to place them in front of the terminal building. Gate access to the airside was limited to the south gate and the entrance code was changed. As security concerns increased with the FAA, National Guardsmen and Morgantown Police maintained the sterile area at the airlines, and photo ID cards were issued to Airport employees and tenants. A City police officer is required to be present during commercial operation hours. A security checkpoint was also established on the south access road and required a visual search of all vehicles accessing the Airport, and a dusk-to-dawn spotlight was installed at that location at a cost of $2,700.

As a result of the Sept. 11 events, air travel at the Morgantown Municipal Airport decreased 42 percent in September and 15 percent in October. Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) revenue, used to match the local share of FAA grants, was down respectively by the same percentages.

In November 2001, the FAA relaxed the limiting of parking within 300 feet of the terminal for category IV Airports. Both access roads to the Airport were reopened. Current security measures include concrete barriers in front of the terminal building, National Guardsmen and City police at the commercial airline screening area, and photo ID cards.

Work on the perimeter fence construction project previously mentioned has resumed and it has taken on new importance for airport security. Changes to increase security at the three access gates around the terminal and General Aviation ramp are being implemented as part of the project.

Most important, the friendly atmosphere always enjoyed by the traveling public at the Morgantown Municipal Airport is still there - and the Airport is safer.

MGW’s staff reached full strength this year with 13 full-time personnel following the hiring of Jackie Marhefka as the Airport Secretary. Former secretary Mary Lou Baker now serves as the FBO liaison for customer support and financial management. In addition to the Airport Director and Assistant Director, there also are two skilled laborers; one laborer; a maintenance superintendent; and five Airport laborers that work as fuel line staff that manage, maintain, and service the Airport and FBO. Airport personnel provide maintenance for the main terminal, airfield and grounds, hangars, all other buildings, and the equipment and vehicles necessary to provide maintenance and repairs. The employees also provide assistance to the Airport tenants and their operations.

• The Airport’s Operating Budget for FY 2001-2002 is $1,361,704.
• Revenues are estimated to be $1,361,704.
• The Airport Improvement Fund subsidy is zero.
• FAA Grants total $1,375,007.
• WV Aeronautics Commission Grants total $38,194.
• Estimated PFC income is $44,400.
• Estimated net income from the vending machines and parking meters is $12,000.

The following equipment was purchased with grant funds:

• *6100 John Deere Tractor, Sweepster broom head and Rhino rear plow
• *350 Diesel Ford Pickup, 1-ton dump bed, Myers snow plow and rear spreader
• Hali-Brite Rotating Beacon - medium intensity

The Airport completed the timbering of 175 acres of its property to remove obstructions, assist with wildlife control, and improve safety and security on the property. With a portion of the $408,523 revenue from timber sales, the Airport paid for:

• *4100 John Deere Tractor with a mower deck and roof - also can be used to move planes
• Seal Coating of T-hangar driveways
• 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Rewiring of Hangar 17
• New GrayCo Paint Machine, used to repaint entire runways, taxiways, and ramps with glass-beaded paint as the FAA required
• New uniforms for employees
• An 8-hour fire training course at the Pittsburgh International Airport Fire Training Academy for all employees.

The Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) has been at the Morgantown Municipal Airport since 1971. Its staff of a manager and four controllers provides total aviation safety services to the aviation community and the City of Morgantown and fosters a professional, friendly environment to aircraft owners and visitors to Morgantown.

The Air Traffic Controllers are the first and last contact that aircraft operators talk with and it has been said that first and last impressions are vital to the success of a visit to any community. Morgantown’s controllers enjoy a well-earned reputation that Morgantown is the friendliest ATCT on the East Coast. Many flight schools in a 200-mile radius of Morgantown prefer their student pilots fly into Morgantown on cross-country trips because they know its reputation. Many professional flight programs, presidential aircraft, military aircraft, and medivac aircraft prefer Morgantown because of the provided services, which results in reduced cost to the flight program as well as a premium in flight instruction. This is not a reputation that is earned overnight. It has taken several years to nurture.

The entire staff has both military and FAA air traffic background - for the five controllers, a combined 150-plus years of experience. Three of the five controllers hold pilot licenses. Two are multi-engine rated, and one currently is working on obtaining his instrument rating.

All the controllers are experienced professionals and have handled several aircraft accidents during their careers that include gear-up landings, fires, deer strikes, and other incidents in which vigilance and experience by ATCT personnel have turned potentially serious situations into routine work. In fact, the Morgantown Tower recently achieved the significant milestone of 1 million error-free operations and will be presented with appropriate recognition from the Director of Air Traffic in the near future.

From Oct. 1, 2000, through Sept. 30, 2001, alone, the Airport handled 41,659 airfield operations (A airfield operation is one takeoff or landing).

Part of the local weather information provided on The Weather Channel originates at the Morgantown Municipal Airport. All the controllers hold certificates to take weather observations.