Airports Story Archives - Page 2 of 2 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

As Unemployment Soars W.Va. Receives Federal Aid For Coal Miners, Airports

West Virginia has received two federal grants to help with infrastructure and workforce projects in the state.

More than $2 million was awarded to Workforce West Virginia through the National Dislocated Worker Grant for programs to help out-of-work coal miners.

This grant comes at a time when unemployment claims in West Virginia are 18 times higher than normal. According to a press release, the money will help 192 West Virginia coal workers and employers through dislocated worker training and employment programs.

The state has received more than $15 million total through the grant since 2012 to help offset an increase in coal industry layoffs.

West Virginia received a separate grant of nearly $10 million from the Federal Aviation Administration. The money is part of the recent CARES act passed by Congress in response to the ongoing pandemic.

The grant will help 23 West Virginia airports that have lost money during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Yeager Charleston Airport will receive over half of the $10 million, with smaller airports in the state receiving between $20,000 and $30,000.

TSA: Guns Found At W.Va. Airports Nearly Doubled In 2019

The federal Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday that the number of guns found at West Virginia airports nearly doubled last year.

The agency on Wednesday said officers stopped 18 firearms at airport checkpoints last year, up from 10 guns in 2018. The Tri-State Airport and Yeager Airport accounted for most of the weapons.

Travelers can be criminally charged or face civil penalties from the TSA for bringing guns to airport checkpoints.

Firearm permit holders can put their guns in checked bags if they follow TSA guidelines.

Nationally, the TSA found more than 4,000 firearms at airport checkpoints last year, which amounted to about 12 per day. Nearly all the firearms were loaded.

Passenger Carry-On Bag Ignites at Yeager Airport Checkpoint

Authorities at a West Virginia airport say a passenger’s carry-on bag ignited as it was going through a security checkpoint.

The Yeager Airport in Charleston says two lithium batteries attached to a charger in the bag caused a small explosion Wednesday. Airport police extinguished the flames, and the airport said there were no injuries or flight delays. The passenger continued on to the flight.

Airport Director Terry Sayre said passengers should review Transportation Security Administration regulations regarding prohibited and regulated items before flying.

The airport says in a news release that lithium batteries with more than 100 watt hours may be allowed in carry-on bags with airline approval but are limited to two spare batteries per passenger. Loose lithium batteries are prohibited in checked bags.

Battery regulations are available online.

W.Va. Airports Receive Federal Grant

Federal funding has been awarded to two airport authorities in West Virginia. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin made the announcement Friday.

Over $730,000 will be awarded to the Mingo County Airport Authority in Williamson and to the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority in Charleston.

About half of that grant will be used to reimburse an energy efficiency study conducted by the airport authority in Charleston, and the rest will be used to support the construction of two taxi lanes providing access to aircraft T-hangers in Williamson.

Both Sen. Capito and Manchin site the grant as necessary for improvements in safety. They also say investing in West Virginia’s airports is critical in the bolstering of the state’s economy.

The federal grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Aviation Administration.

Three W.Va. Airports Received Grants for Improvements

Three airports in Southern West Virginia have been awarded federal grants to improve airfield infrastructure.

U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall says Greenbrier Valley Airport will receive $1 million to pay for the design of reconstructing apron pavement and building a new taxi lane. The airport also will use the funding to acquire snow removal equipment.

Logan County Airport will receive $150,000 to acquire a new runway visual guidance system.

The Federal Aviation Administration also awarded nearly $130,000 to Summersville Airport to remove trees and obstructions from one of its runway approaches and transitional surfaces.