Mercer County Airport (West Virginia)

Mercer County Airport (IATA: BLF, ICAO: KBLF, FAA LID: BLF) is in Mercer County,[1] three miles northeast of Bluefield, West Virginia[1] and about nine miles southwest of Princeton, West Virginia. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation facility.[2]

Mercer County Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMercer County Airport Authority
ServesBluefield / Princeton, West Virginia
Elevation AMSL2,857 ft / 871 m
Coordinates37°17′45″N 081°12′28″W
Map
BLF
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 4,743 1,446 Asphalt
Statistics (2009)
Aircraft operations16,400
Based aircraft22

The airport has been served by scheduled airlines. Service was subsidized by the Essential Air Service program until August 1, 2006, when it ended due to federal law not allowing a subsidy over $200 per passenger for communities within 210 miles of a large or medium hub airport (Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in North Carolina being 173 miles away).[3] Federal Aviation Administration records say Mercer County Airport had 2,041 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2004, 1,885 enplanments in 2005,[4] 1,833 in 2006 and 1,721 in 2007.[5] Scheduled passenger flights ended in 2007.

Facilities

Mercer County Airport covers 144 acres (58 ha) at an elevation of 2,857 feet (871 m). Its one runway, 5/23, is 4,743 by 100 feet (1,446 x 30 m) asphalt.[1]

In the year ending October 30, 2009 the airport had 16,400 aircraft operations, average 44 per day: 88% general aviation, 11% air taxi, and 1% military. 22 aircraft were then based at this airport: 64% single-engine, 9% multi-engine, 9% jet, 14% helicopter, and 5% ultralight.[1]

Former airlines
  • Piedmont Airlines 1953–54 to 1980 (the airport opened about 1953)
  • Appalachian Airlines (ended operations in 1980)
  • Colgan Air (ended operations November 12, 2007)

References
  1. FAA Airport Master Record for BLF (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective April 5, 2012.
  2. "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012. External link in |work= (help)
  3. "Order 2006-6-22: Terminating the Essential Air Service subsidy eligibility of Bluefield/Princeton, West Virginia, as of August 1, 2006". U.S. Department of Transportation. June 26, 2006.
  4. "Enplanements for CY 2005" (PDF). CY 2005 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. 2006. External link in |work= (help)
  5. "Enplanements for CY 2007" (PDF). CY 2007 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. September 26, 2008. External link in |work= (help)

Other sources
  • Essential Air Service documents (Docket OST-1997-2761) from the U.S. Department of Transportation:
    • Order 2002-4-25 (May 2, 2002): tentatively reselects Colgan Air, Inc. d/b/a US Airways Express, to provide essential air services at Beckley and Bluefield/Princeton, West Virginia, for the two-year period beginning August 1, 2002, at an annual subsidy rate to $2,067,693,
    • Order 2002-10-34 (October 31, 2002): finalizes the tentative findings and conclusions set forth in Order 2002-4-25.
    • Order 2004-6-14 (June 23, 2004): selects Colgan Air, Inc., d/b/a US Airways Express, to continue providing essential air service at Beckley and Bluefield/Princeton, West Virginia, for the two-year period beginning August 1, 2004, at an annual subsidy of $20,017,064.
    • Order 2006-6-22 (June 26, 2006): terminating the essential air service subsidy eligibility of Bluefield/Princeton, West Virginia, as of August 1, 2006, and allowing Colgan Air, Inc., d/b/a US Airways Express, to suspend service there as of the same date, if it chooses (subsidy per passenger already exceeded the statutory ceiling of $200 per passenger and the community is located 173 miles from Charlotte, the nearest large or medium hub).
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