Low temps, snow hit airport, official says
A Winner Aviation manager is hopeful Las Vegas flights could come soon.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
VIENNA -- Below-zero temperatures 10 days ago set in motion "one of the worst days I've seen in the eight years I've been here as far as cost outlay," said Steve Bowser, Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport director of aviation.
Bowser told Western Reserve Port Authority members Wednesday that he doesn't yet know the final cost for the equipment repairs, materials and manpower from that period -- but said it will be substantial.
Among the damage: a transformer failed, knocking out power to the airport for part of Feb. 12; one of two heating boilers at the terminal, a snow blower used on the runways, a salt spreader and two pickup trucks broke down; and the airport's Internet connection was down three days.
Two days later, snowfall caused the main runway to be shut down for 45 minutes, Bowser said. It is the first time in about four years he can remember having to shut down a runway.
On Feb. 12, most of the heating system in Hangar 5 used by Winner Aviation, one of the largest service providers at the facility, quit working. Port authority members, who oversee the airport's operations, approved spending 14,000 to replace the hangar's heating system.
They also approved the purchase of a 3/4-ton pickup truck at a cost of 22,017 to replace one of the ones that broke down.
One of the reasons the airport is affected so much by cold and windy days like Feb. 12 is that the facility has 500 acres with almost no trees to block the weather, Bowser said.
About Allegiant passengers
In other business, Chuck Johnson, manager of aviation services for Winner Aviation, said the number of passengers using Allegiant Air to fly between the local airport and the Sanford International Airport in Florida gives him hope that flights to Las Vegas could be in the offing in a couple of months. Winner Aviation provides fuel and other services at the airport,
Johnson said Allegiant flights were about 75 percent full from November through January, but the numbers have picked up considerably in February. Bowser said flights throughout February were nearly full and March bookings are about average. Johnson said the flights this Friday and Monday are completely full.
Bowser said he has noticed Allegiant bookings at the airport terminal area picking up substantially now that Winner employees are manning the ticket counter from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday
Johnson and Bowser said one reason for increasing counter sales is that tickets are less expensive there than buying them online. Each ticket costs 7.50 less than tickets bought on Allegiant's Web site because those tickets contain a "convenience fee," Johnson said.
Airport's Web site
In other business, Bowser noted that the airport's Web site is up and running at www.yngairport.com and contains minutes of the port authority's meetings, links to airlines serving the airport, and other information.
Port Authority members also approved a contract with the airport's consultant, R.W. Armstrong of Cleveland, that pays the company 146,000 for 2007.
Duane Johnson of R.W. Armstrong said he expects the Federal Aviation Administration to approve the airport's Passenger Facility Charge of 4.50 per ticket April 1. The fees are used to make improvements to the airport that affect passengers, such as restrooms.
runyan@vindy.com