Raleigh County Airport Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Dealing With A Particularly Awful Allergy Season, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, if allergies are making you more miserable than usual this spring, you’re not alone. We hear from a West Virginia allergy specialist who confirms this year is a tough one for seasonal allergy sufferers.

Meanwhile, a trade delegation just got back from opening a West Virginia Trade Office in Taiwan. They say they learned much more than increasing global markets.

Also, we now know why part of the John Amos power plant was down during December’s Winter Storm Elliott, an industrial park at the Raleigh County Memorial Airport is set to begin construction and Toyota is expanding its high school education program in West Virginia.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Industrial Park Set For Construction Near Raleigh County Airport

The 105-acre park is planned as part of an aviation and economic development hub in the southern part of the state. The New River Gorge Development Authority officially began work on the project after accepting a $7.7 million bid from A.L.L. Construction last Saturday.

Site preparations began Monday on an industrial park at the Raleigh County Memorial Airport.

The authority plans to use the park to attract aerospace and cargo firms to the area. It’s also meant to provide jobs for the local labor force – New River Gorge Community and Technical College expects to have its aviation and maintenance technician program open by the end of 2024.

Other recent developments at the airport include federal grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration and Economic Development Administration, the construction of a training hangar for aviation maintenance students and funding for a new road that would connect the airport to rail transportation.

Overall, the total investment in improvements being made to the airport and nearby facilities totals $8.3 million.

The industrial park is planned to be completed in a year, according to the agency.

New River Gorge Community And Technical College Receives Aviation Program Grant

The college is receiving grant funding from the American Electric Power Foundation to help get their new Aviation And Maintenance Technician School off the ground.

The grant puts $100,000 towards buying equipment for the new aviation program. At least some of the funding is going towards getting a jet engine powered aircraft and operational systems students can work on.

“It just enables us to give students hands-on, real experience on working on an aircraft,” Program Director Art Dilger said. “It’s really exciting to see it all come together.”

The sentiment was echoed by school president Bonny Copenhaver, who said in a statement that these programs “are designed to meet the needs of employers in our region and to train and employ community members.”

The school’s focus on aviation is meant to address a nationwide shortage of mechanics in the field. They’re joining other schools around the state in creating more aviation programs, like Marshall and Shepherd Universities.

“For our area that enables younger people or students to get into a career there’s no end to,” Dilger said. “They can continue growing and continue being educated as they move forward.”

Nearby Raleigh County Memorial Airport is also supporting the program, with New River Community Technical College purchasing a hangar at the airport last year.

The program is currently in the process to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, but Dilger said he expects the school to be fully opened by the end of 2024.

Beckley, WV Airport Offers Flights to Popular Vacation Spot

A West Virginia airport is beginning to offer weekly flights to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The Register-Herald reports the flights originate out of Raleigh Memorial Airport near Beckley.

Airport Manager Tom Cochran says the airport has wanted to offer flights to Myrtle Beach for a long time. He says a survey through the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce showed that area residents were interested in traveling to Myrtle Beach.

Cochran says flights leave Beckley on Friday and return on Monday and cost about $100 round trip. The flight takes about 90 minutes and stops in Charlotte to pick up more passengers.

Cochran says about 75 flights to Myrtle Beach have been booked through August.