‘Patriot Day’ festivities planned
DUNBAR TWP. – A local aviation group, in cooperation with the Fayette County Airport Authority, will celebrate the Connellsville Airport’s 65th birthday Saturday with an event designed to mark the importance of aviation and preview the airport’s future According to Alfred F. Ambrosini, president of the Connellsville Airport Aviation Association (CAAA), local and state government officials, as well as the public, are invited to attend the “Patriot Day” celebration at 10 a.m.
Ambrosini said officials will unveil the airport’s master plan, which includes a proposed runway extension, a new general aviation terminal building, new water and sewer systems, a new Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation terminal and other planned projects.
Master plan charts, drawings and other information will be on display for the first time, and officials will be available to answer questions about the plan. Immediately after the presentation, a bus will take participants on a tour of the airport.
Ambrosini added that, in the future, the CAAA and airport officials are looking at getting charter service at the airport, to benefit “businessmen and businesses in general.”
He said that with airport security at an all-time high, it takes far too much time for business people to travel to Pittsburgh to take a short flight.
“We will be able to provide short-hop flights that will not require business people to travel to Pittsburgh to catch a flight,” said Ambrosini. “By the time they drive to Pittsburgh International Airport and grab their flight, they could have been almost anywhere already if they would have left from the Connellsville Airport.”
Patriot Day activities are open to the public and will feature the “Great American Freedom” fly-in, designed to demonstrate the benefits of flight.
“We also want to show the importance of general aviation and general aviation airports like the Connellsville Airport,” said Ambrosini. “General aviation is responsible for generating 75 percent of all air traffic in this country.”
Visitors will have a chance to take helicopter and airplane rides, weather permitting, and several aircraft will be on display.
Aircraft owners will be on hand to answer questions, and information on how to obtain a pilot’s license will be available.
Ambrosini said Saturday will mark the 65th anniversary of the airport’s Sept. 11, 1939, official dedication, which Gen. George C. Marshall attended.
Ambrosini said the CAAA was formed to promote the airport and encourage new services and expanded infrastructure there. CAAA members don’t have to be pilots.
“There are a lot of people who enjoy aviation who don’t fly a plane,” said Ambrosini. “This airport is here for everyone to enjoy. We want to get a lot of people involved so that when the airport does become the hub of Fayette County, they can be proud to say that they were involved.”
Airport authority manager Sam Cortis said any interest the CAAA can bring to the airport is good.
“We want people to come out on Sept. 11 and see the facility and the projects that we have planned,” said Cortis. “This day is going to be a lot of fun for everybody, because the pilots get to fly and the public gets to ride and inspect the planes.”