Canceled weekend flights hamper plans
By JOLENE CRAIG
POSTED: May 20, 2008
WILLIAMSTOWN — Flights canceled into and out of the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport hampered plans for many during the weekend.
“It’s embarrassing,” said airport manager Terry Moore.
Between Saturday and Monday mornings there were four canceled flights and one delayed, Moore said.
One of the two Saturday canceled fights was supposed to bring home the group of local officials touring Japan, including Keith Burdette, president of the Wood County Economic Development Authority, Wood County Commission President Bob Tebay, Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell, Bob Bays, general legal counsel for the Area Roundtable, and Cam Huffman, vice president of the development authority.
“It was an inconvenience, but not too bad,” said Newell.
The group was expected to be on the 8:50 a.m. flight from Washington Dulles International Airport into the area, but the flight was canceled due to weather. The second flight did land, Moore said.
The group thought about flying into Charleston, but was too late for the departing flight.
“The reality is that instead of waiting in the airport, we drove and got home before the next flight would have landed,” Newell said.
Moore said he felt bad for the group because it added time to its already long travel.
“I’ve been on that flight from Japan and it kicks you in the knees and to then have your flight canceled just adds more,” he said.
Moore said all of the Sunday flights were canceled because of airplane mechanical problems.
“Colgan had eight planes in 14 markets down Sunday,” Moore said.
Moore said Colgan Air provides service to Parkersburg, Morgantown Municipal Airport and Harrison-Marion Regional Airport in Clarksburg to Washington Dulles International Airport with the same plane.
“I don’t know all (airports) hit by this,” Moore said.
Moore said the latest cancellations join the four maintenance-related cancellations in April and five in March.
“Statistically, they have a 92 percent completion rate, which isn’t bad at all,” he said. “It just looks bad because we have so few flights.”
All flights left Monday, with a two-hour delay on the 6:05 a.m. flight.
Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-8 | Post a comment
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robnjess
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05-20-08 5:49 PM
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This comment is for Chapman I'd like you to remember any sort of electronic device you own. Most of the cars people own. Remembering PEARL *yes not peral* Harbor is one thing but honestly come on. Without the Japanese we'd still be watching things on 35mm film.
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Maggie
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05-20-08 4:20 PM
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Oh PLEASE! First of all why is it needed for taxpayers to fund a trip to Japan for 7 people to maybe pickup 80 jobs???? Especially when we do not have a decent airport to accomodate business to the mid-ohio valley. Get with the program Wood County instead of playing the good old boys game.
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cowsr4eating
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05-20-08 12:13 PM
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Unfortunately, until this area can re-establish reliable air service, the local economy is doomed. These events are the the fault of the airport director, so I don't blame him for anything. It is simply a collection of actions, including US Airways' cutbacks, that have doomed the local economy. Something has to be done to bring reliable air service, including a greater number of daily and weekend flights, back to this area.
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DCGibson
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05-20-08 11:10 AM
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The cold war is over The (insert Japanese or Chinese ) won They took over our Country..... and they never used a gun.
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Boazian
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05-20-08 10:07 AM
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At least there are 80 more families being provide for because of Hino. They will add more jobs to our area soon as there was an ad in Sunday's paper. I am not fond of having to look to Japan or anywhere outside the US for WV jobs but this appears to be a viable alternative. They would be remiss of their duties not to try to take advantage of the opportunity.
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CHAPMAN
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05-20-08 8:24 AM
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REMEMBER PERAL HARBOR IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
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CHAPMAN
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05-20-08 8:23 AM
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REMEMBER PERAL HARBOR IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY
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canniballoe
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05-20-08 8:17 AM
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I hope those fellows coming back from their vacation in Japan brought back more jobs with them than HINO did... This whole state tripping over itself to roll out the red carpet,and for what...80 jobs..
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