Airport Manager Malone Terminated

[Rob]

Airport Manager Malone Terminated

The Potomac Highlands Airport Authority fired its airport manager on Thursday and is scrambling to find a replacement quickly.

A committee of four — which oddly includes the fired manager, Terry Malone — plans to meet next week to discuss details such as whether to conduct a local or national search and whether to hire an interim director.

[bakeall]

Does anyone know why he was fired?

[Rob]

According to the article, Mr. Malone isn't saying anything and neither is the Airport Authority.  That alone tells me something though.   

[Car Doc]

But he is still a member of the board who is going to pick his replacement. Odd way of doing things

doc

[MowerMan47]

And here we go with "the word on the street" rumors.  A thing about th word on the street is that most people have no idea what they are talking about. Having a local pilot and businessman as the manager of our airport is a good thing. Before churning out the "i heards" gather facts.

[Dynamo]

Before churning out the "i heards" gather facts.

Agreed. Can you provide "facts?"

[MowerMan47]

I have no information. My only hope is the authority finds a replacement that will continue to keep the airport on a track to serve the needs of general aviation for years to come.

[Quest]

  Maybe this info has been said before but WHO  funds the Airport ?

 What jurisdiction is the Airport under & is responsible for funding ?

  Is it open all of the time ? (Available for planes) I know there aren't commercial
 flights but according to the scanner,many planes get fuel there.

[MarcNelsonJr]

Maybe this info has been said before but WHO  funds the Airport ?

We do - through our local, state, and federal taxes.

The airport board is appointed by the Mayor and City Council, the Allegany County Commissioners, and the Mineral County commissioners.

[MowerMan47]

Cumberland is a general aviation airport. If you drive up there you will notice it looks desolate. To the contrary all the hangar space is full of planes. In addition to the MSP trooper 5 the airport maintains a maintenance facility in the former Kelly-Springfield hangar. Adjacant to that is the hangar of the Cumberland Soaring group. The larger hangar in the midfield houses a few corporate jets and is used for transient pilots to store their aircraft if so desired. the resturant is no longer open but another business (not sure what it is) is in there. The local EAA (expermiental aircraft assoc.) holds pancake breakfasts at their hangar monthly.

Our airport like many throughout the region sees alot of business whether its students, professionals who are coming to check out their business operations or locally to make prisoner transfers. Some pilots live out of town during the week and fly home for the weekends.

The Airport plays host to the popular autocross events and vintage aircraft have consistently made it a stopover during their tours.

There is no commercial commuter service. it just can't be sustained. I consider myself fortunate to call the Greater Cumberland Airport my home base. I've made many friends at the airport and the employees are courteous and friendly. The airport is staffed daily 7a-8p and 7a-6p on weekends.

[illuminati]

Kinda off topic but I have a few questions. 


Who owns the airport?

I've heard that both MD and WV are sharing some sort of costs associated with keeping it open. 

What are those costs?

I've also heard WV isn't or hasn't fullfilled it's obligations regarding the airport. 

[woogus]

Maybe this info has been said before but WHO  funds the Airport ?

We do - through our local, state, and federal taxes.

The airport board is appointed by the Mayor and City Council, the Allegany County Commissioners, and the Mineral County commissioners.

For example, last year Allegany County Commissioners paid $240,000 toward the operation of the airport.

What else do they receive from Mineral County, state of Maryland, state of West Virginia, federal government?  Who knows?

[Quest]

In October,I was one of 25 residents that participated in the Cumb.Police/Citizen 7 week Seminar / 7 wks / Thurs / 2hrs......  Each week was a a different location & one week we visited the hanger of Trooper 5 at the airport. We all left there with a greater appreciation of the work that they do

   I think there are plans for another Tour this year. I don't know of a date.

[MowerMan47]

I travel to many airports in this region and know that we do more with less. Lest anyone think the airport is a vacuum of taxpayer monies.

[joker84]

BORDER WAR???!!!!

[MowerMan47]

major waste of tax dollars

says you.

[joker84]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, I would much rather see the tax dollars going into the local airport than into a local prison that brings no good to the community.

[Candidate]

I like the fly in breakfast at the airport. My 8 year old son can't wait for them to start again this year. He wants so bad to go up in a plane, but refuses to go without me. The bad part of that is, I am told they will only take kids between certain ages for flights, no adults.

[Rob]

I don't like being a negative sort and I admit that it is nice having an airport but what does Allegany County get for their 240,000 dollar tax investment per year?  Does Mineral County invest an equal amount in tax dollars?  Does the city of Cumberland invest tax dollars?  Other then Maryland's medivac helicopter operating out of the airport I really can't think of any value to the tax payers.

[MowerMan47]

uh, goldensilence did you not read my earlier post. The airport does have corporate services. The airport is hardly a playground a weathly individuals. "our tax backs"  classic go to phrase. What county/federal services to do use that I don't so i may cut it down?