Airport unveils new terminal building
DUNBAR TWP. – The new terminal building at the Connellsville Airport was publicly unveiled Wednesday during a ceremony that included Fayette County Airport Authority (FCAA) board members and several local politicians. FCAA Chairman Fred K. Davis and others spoke about the General Aviation Terminal before taking part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside of the transformed building, which was once an old 24,000-sqaure foot airplane hanger.
Davis said completion of the 8,000-square foot terminal is one more step toward having a “larger, more modern airport.”
The terminal is located on Route 119 across from Laurel Mall. Construction began in March of 2005 and was completed earlier this year.
The former Taylorcraft building that once housed World War II airplanes is now a modern, comfortable terminal with a covered parking area. A spacious lobby greets visitors, pilots and business people who fly into Fayette County.
The terminal is trimmed throughout in mahogany wood taken from the roof of the Taylorcraft building. A wooden and metallic gray desk is at one end, opposite where vending machines and additional seating will be placed for those waiting for a ride or flight out.
The terminal also houses two available tenant lease spaces board members hope to see filled soon by a car rental agency, restaurant or some other small business. In addition, there are public bathrooms, office spaces for FCAA employees, a conference room and a high-tech flight planning room for pilots.
“This facility means much to the community,” said Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Dunbar). “This is a link to our economic future. No region has been successful without an airport.”
The terminal cost $2.2 million to construct. Funding sources were the state Bureau of Aviation Development Program and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program.
Kasunic said the next step is to extend the runway so that larger planes will have access to the airport, resulting in more business for both the airport and the surrounding community.
Davis said the runway will be extended about a 1,000 feet, from 3,800 feet to 4,500 feet threshold to threshold in addition to adding safety overruns.
The runway extension project is expected to take about three years to complete.
In March, Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III gave the FCAA an $800,000 line of credit to pay for engineering and design services along with the utility relocation necessary for the runway development at the airport.
During the ceremony, Hardy and Carolyn Eberly Blaney were recognized for their contributions to the airport.
Having a functioning airport is “a must,” Hardy said.
“In today’s modern life, you really have to have an airport,” he said. “We’ll really have something going here once we get the runway finished.”