Air Service Debate at Johnstown Airport

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP, CAMBRIA COUNTY - The future of commercial air passenger service to the region was under discussion on Tuesday  at the Johnstown Cambria County Airport. The issue is attracting a lot of attention because the federal program  which spends  more than three million dollars each year to provide essential air passenger service to this region expires at the end of June.

  The Johnstown - Cambria County Airport Authority was discussing  the future of commercial air service to this region because the  Federal Aviation Authority  wants to hear from local agencies before selecting  a Commercial  Air Carrier to receive  the millions of dollars in federal subsidies  that will be available after July First.   While four  air carriers have submitted proposals  to provide air service to both  the Cambria  and Blair County  Airports,  the competition  appears to come down to two carriers, the current service provider, Colgen Air, and a relatively new and growing company , Charter Air Transport.  In the end, the Cambria County  Board agreed to support the Colgen Air proposal.  Company officials say their past service and the stability of the airline were what made the difference.
   
While the Board did not vote in their favor, the principals behind the Charter Air Transport proposal say they see a future for the sort of flexible, non-traditional air carrier service they are hoping to provide to this region.   Even without the federal subsidy, Company officials believe this air service has a future serving our region.
The final decision on which air service provider will receive the multi-million dollar federal subsidy will be made in Washington by the F.A.A.   That decision is expected well before the current air service contract expires June 30'th.