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Article originally posted to the (Somerset) Commonwealth Journal web site http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/local/x1767997925/SPCU-Study-stresses-plan-isn-t-political-foresees-Somerset-as-third-largest-city-in-state SPCU study stresses plan isn’t political; foresees Somerset as third largest city in state by Bill Mardis Commonwealth Journal          Thu Jan 23, 2014, 07:38 PM EST
Somerset — Unifying governments in Pulaski County is a citizen-driven opportunity to streamline government through unification and is not involved in politics. This was the central theme of a study released late yesterday to the Commonwealth Journal, and then to the public at a Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce “Business After Hours” event at The Center for Rural Development. The 10-month study, commissioned by Somerset-Pulaski County United (SPCU), a group of about 150 civic and business leaders, was conducted by Luke Schmidt, president of Louisville-based consulting firm L.B. Schmidt & Associates. “Neither SPCU nor locally elected officials, only voters can approve or reject unification,” Schmidt emphasized from the start. “We have never said … we will never say existing governments in Pulaski County are bad, nor does the study reflect negativity,” he insisted. The study insists unification presents an opportunity to build a bigger and better community. “The opportunity exists to make good local government great with everyone focused on a common purpose –– to grow the community and create new jobs,” Schmidt said. “For communities that have unified, not one has dissolved its unified government to return to the former form of duplicative government, he related. “This study provides a foundation for SPCU as we begin to consider both the positives and negatives that might accrue to our community if the community wishes to unify the various local governments, said SPCU chairman Brook Ping. “It is an educational process,” he added. Unified governments in the county would dissolve city boundaries and create one government for the entire county. The exception is Eubank which straddles the Pulaski-Lincoln county line and by state law is not eligible to participate in a unified government. Schmidt said Eubank could enter into an interlocal agreement and be a participating city with unified governments. The sense of community would remain … Nancy would be Nancy, Science Hill would be Science Hill, Burnside would be Burnside, both Ping and Schmidt emphasized. At present, Pulaski County has 56 local government jurisdictions providing services to 63,000 people. Greater Pulaski County has an additional 32 boards and commissions for a total of 88 government-related entities, the study noted. Annually, it costs $27.7 million in general fund revenues and a workforce of 581 employees to provide local government services in all of Pulaski County, the study pointed out. Somerset, with its current population of 11,296, is the 33rd largest city in Kentucky. Unified, with a population of more than 63,000, Somerset, now a third-class city, would be the third largest city in the state, qualifying for 2nd-class status. Typically, no public workers from unifying jurisdictions are laid off as the result of merger. The work force is reduced by normal attrition, the study says. “No one is saying unified governments will save money, only that money will be spent more efficiently,” said Schmidt. Unification will not move school boundaries; it will not change local option areas, and with combined budgets, tax rates usually stay the same, Schmidt pointed out. Schmidt and Ping explained that the unified government law in Kentucky has been modified to allow individual cities to remain unchanged. “For example,” Schmidt said, “If voters in Science Hill rejected unification the city would not change. If voters in Somerset and unincorporated areas voted against the plan, unification is dead,” he noted. “The most important part of the study, and perhaps the hardest part, will be for all citizens to begin thinking, not only outside the box, but also outside of traditional boundary lines,” said Schmidt. “The opportunity exists to build a bigger and better community,” he added. Economic development officials in unified communities confirm that having one central government is much more attractive to business and industrial clients considering investing in a community, the study said. Somerset and Ferguson already have opted out of the plan and “ … without Somerset unification won’t work,” Schmidt conceded. According to law, to start a unification process, Pulaski Fiscal Court, Somerset City Council and governing bodies of Burnside, Ferguson and Science Hill by ordinance would create an official Unified Government Commission made up of between 20 and 40 members to plan a structure for a unified city-county government. Pulaski Fiscal Court would appoint half the members of a Unified Government Commission and the remaining members would be appointed by participating cities, prorated on population. Any type of merged governments must be approved by voters of Pulaski County. Ping has said several times that unification is a slow process and successful merger could take up to four years

Article originally posted to the (Somerset) Commonwealth Journal web site http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/newslive/x1427970087/Unified-government-plan-to-be-unveiled

Public invited to hear results of SPCU study at Center tonight

by Bill Mardis Commonwealth Journal          Wed Jan 22, 2014, 05:59 PM EST

Somerset —

A 10-month study on feasibility of unified local governments in Pulaski County will be discussed tonight at The Center for Rural Development. The event, in a Somerset-Pulaski County Chamb-er of Commerce “Business After Hours” format, will begin at 6 p.m. and the public, elected officials and candidates for public office are urged to attend.
Luke B. Schmidt, president of Louisville-based consulting firm L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, will make a formal presentation on the study’s findings, according to Brook Ping, chair of Somerset-Pulaski County United (SPCU), a group of about 150 local business and community leaders.
None of the study’s findings has been released up to now. However, a news release from SPCU said a broad base of the study includes an analysis of existing governmental structures in Pulaski County, an examination of select community unified government structures in the United States and an overview of how to form unified governments in Kentucky and Pulaski County.
SPCU has emphasized from the onset that the $35,000 study will not advocate unification of city and county governments; only determine the feasibility of unified governments. They have pointed out that Somerset, with its current population of 11,296, is the 33rd largest city in Kentucky. Unified, with a population of more than 63,000, Somerset, now a third-class city, would be the third largest city in the state, qualifying for 2nd-class status.
Ping pointed out that unification, if approved by voters, is a slow-moving procedure. He estimated it would take at least four years.
  “Lots of questions have been raised about unified government and what it might mean to the community,” said Schmidt. “Our presentation will begin to answer these questions with real data about the current form of government in Pulaski County, contrasted with how communities with unified governments operate. Clearly, opportunities exist to take Pulaski County’s good government and perhaps make it even better,” he commented.
  Unifying governments requires several steps and the law is designed to make it difficult to merge in order to ensure considerable thought goes into developing the formal plan of unified government (also known as the charter), Schmidt stated.
  Schmidt at the chamber forum will address what happens if merger occurs, including status of jobs currently held by public workers; what impact does merger have on the sale of alcoholic beverages, school districts and utilities; and, will tax rates go up or down?
  “The most important thing for everyone to keep in mind at this point is that unified government, if it does indeed occur, is a long way down the road,” Schmidt repeated.  “In the end, only voters, not SPCU nor locally elected officials, can approve or reject unification,” he emphasized.
“For now, we invite everyone in the community – the general public, elected officials and potential future candidates for public office to join us at The Center as we embark on what most likely will be an extensive community dialogue on the future of local government in Pulaski County,” Schmidt concluded.
 Unified governments in the county would dissolve city boundaries and create one government for the entire county. The exception is Eubank which straddles the Pulaski-Lincoln county line and by state law is not eligible to participate in a unified government.
According to law, Pulaski Fiscal Court, Somerset City Council and governing bodies of Burnside, Ferguson and Science Hill by ordinance would create an official Unified Government Commission made up of between 20 and 40 members to plan a structure for a unified city-county government. Somerset and Ferguson apparently would not participate and, according to Schmidt, “would not have a seat at the table.”
Pulaski Fiscal Court would appoint half the members of a Unified Government Commission and the remaining members would be appointed by participating cities, prorated on population. It is not clear at this point how lack of participation by Somerset, the largest city in the county, would affect the unification process.
Any type of merged governments must be approved by voters of Pulaski County.

Article originally posted to the (Somerset) Commonwealth Journal’s web site http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/local/x1427967744/Results-of-unified-government-study-to-be-released-this-week

By Bill Mardis

Somerset — Findings in a 10-month study of feasibility of unified local governments in Pulaski County will be presented at 6 p.m. Thursday, January 23 at The Center for Rural Development. Elected officials, candidates for public office and the public are urged to attend the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event in a “Chamber after Hours” format.

Luke B. Schmidt, president of Louisville-based consulting firm L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, will make a formal presentation on the study’s findings, according to Brook Ping, chair of Somerset-Pulaski County United (SPCU), a group of about 150 local business and community leaders.

“Release of the study’s findings has become a much-anticipated community event,” said Ping.  “SPCU’s focus during this entire endeavor has simply been to learn more about the potential benefits that unified government might offer our community.  SPCU’s mission is to improve our community and to improve economic development opportunities and this study represents our first step down this path for a better future,” Ping emphasized.

None of the study’s findings has been released up to now. However, a news release from SPCU said a broad base of the study includes an analysis of existing governmental structures in Pulaski County, an examination of select community unified government structures in the United States and an overview of how to form unified governments in Kentucky and Pulaski County.

SPCU has emphasized from the onset that the $35,000 study will not advocate unification of city and county governments; only determine the feasibility of unified governments. They have pointed out that Somerset, with its current population of 11,296, is the 33rd largest city in Kentucky. Unified, with a population of more than 63,000, Somerset, now a third-class city, would be the third largest city in the state, qualifying for 2nd-class status.

Ping pointed out that unification, if approved by voters, is a slow-moving procedure. He estimated it would take at least four years.

“Lots of questions have been raised about unified government and what it might mean to the community,” said Schmidt.  “Our presentation will begin to answer these questions with real data about the current form of government in Pulaski County, contrasted with how communities with unified governments operate.  Clearly, opportunities exist to take Pulaski County’s good government and perhaps make it even better,” he commented.

Unifying governments requires several steps and the law is designed to make it difficult to merge in order to ensure considerable thought goes into developing the formal plan of unified government (also known as the charter), Schmidt stated.

Schmidt at the chamber forum will address what happens when merger occurs, including such things as what happens to jobs currently held by public workers; what impact does merger have on the sale of alcoholic beverages, school districts and utilities; and, will tax rates go up or down?

“The most important thing for everyone to keep in mind at this point is that unified government, if it does indeed occur, is a long way down the road,” Schmidt repeated.  “In the end, only voters, not SPCU nor locally elected officials, can approve or reject unification,” he emphasized.

“For now, we invite everyone in the community –– the general public, elected officials and potential future candidates for public office –– to join us at The Center as we embark on what most likely will be an extensive community dialogue on the future of local government in Pulaski County,” Schmidt concluded.

A major stumbling block is Somerset’s refusal to participate in the study. Somerset City Council has directed its legal department to obtain whatever help necessary to protect the existence and boundaries of the city. Ferguson City Council also has adopted a resolution opting out of the study. Pulaski Fiscal Court has cooperated, paying about $12,000 as its share of the study’s cost. Other cities in the county generally have taken a wait-and-see attitude.

Unified governments in the county would dissolve city boundaries and create one government for the entire county. The exception is Eubank which straddles the Pulaski-Lincoln county line and by state law is not eligible to participate in a unified government.

According to law, Pulaski Fiscal Court, Somerset City Council and governing bodies of Burnside, Ferguson and Science Hill by ordinance would create an official Unified Government Commission made up of between 20 and 40 members to plan a structure for a unified city-county government. Somerset and Ferguson apparently would not participate and, according to Schmidt, “would not have a seat at the table.”

Pulaski Fiscal Court would appoint half the members of a Unified Government Commission and the remaining members would be appointed by participating cities, prorated on population. It is not clear at this point how lack of participation by Somerset, the largest city in the county, would affect the unification process.

Any type of merged governments must be approved by voters of Pulaski County.

Article originally posted to the WYMT-TV (Hazard) web site on November 6, 2013 http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Officials-announce-commercial-air-service-in-Eastern-Kentucky-230907141.html

(Click on the link above to view video news report)

 Officials announce commercial air service in Eastern Kentucky

By: Whitney Burks – Email

Posted: Wed 7:16 PM, Nov 06, 2013 

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) – Wednesday was described as a monumental day for Pikeville and our region as officials announced the first passenger airline to serve Eastern Kentucky.

For years it has been a dream for many leaders in Pike County and the commonwealth.

“Commercial air service is terribly important in linking up particularly the business community with the rest of the world,” said Congressman Hal Rogers.

On Wednesday those leaders made the official announcement that the first passenger air service, Appalachian Air, to serve Eastern Kentucky is landing here at the Pikeville-Pike County Regional Airport, beginning with daily roundtrip flights to Nashville International Airport in March.

“As leaders of the great people of the Appalachian region we must stop living in the dreams of yesterday, wake up and understand the reality of today and find smart ways of making a better and brighter tomorrow,” said Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn.

Governor Steve Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers, both deemed instrumental in getting commercial air service here, say it is another step in moving the region forward and making it more accessible.

They say it is a great beginning to something they announced recently called Shaping Our Appalachian Region, or SOAR.

“Everybody took a lot of risk to get us to where we are today. That’s what it’s going to take to move our region ahead. We can do it. This is proof we can do it. It’s a vital part of moving our region ahead,” said Gov. Steve Beshear.

And they are hoping the air service will help business and tourism in the mountains take off.

Article originally posted to the (Pikeville) Appalachian News-Express web site on November 8, 2013 http://news-expressky.com/edition/

Taking Flight 

After months of speculation, debate and planning, Appalachian Air is a reality 

BY CHRIS ANDERSON

NEWS EDITOR 

Commercial air service in Pike County figuratively took off months ago with the awarding of a federal grant. On Wednesday, however, the service had its first literal takeoff.

At an unveiling event Wednesday afternoon at the Pikeville-Pike County Regional Airport, local, state and federal officials unveiled the county’s new commercial air service and also revealed the name for the service — Appalachian Air. About 300 people gathered in one of the airport’s hangars for the unveiling of the service, which saw officials such as Gov. Steve Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers join local officials in lauding the establishment of the service and encouraging residents of the region to utilize the new airline.

Pikeville City Commissioner Jimmy Carter, who opened the event, said the establishment of commercial air service was the result of a group of determined local leaders who never gave up on their hopes for commercial air service. He said the launch of commercial air service, expected to begin carrying passengers in early March, will make the region accessible to the rest of the world.

“This is an opportunity to open the hills of the Appalachian region to the world,” Carter said.

Carter was joined on stage by several people who had a part in establishing the air service venture. Carter added that the air service is not a venture of chance, but one which officials, such as the ones onstage with him during theevent, believe will work and be successful.

“Trust me, this did not happen by accident or chance,” he said.

Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn, while quoting iconic aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh, said the region’s elected and appointed officials have to stop “living in the dreams of yesterday” and “wake up and understand the reality of today.”

“We need to understand that doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results simply does not work,” he said.

Blackburn detailed the steps taken by local officials to establish Appalachian Air. He said there have been several starts and stops, but those seeking to establish the service persevered and eventually were successful in luring an airline to the region — in Pike County’s case, Corporate Flight Management.

“Finally, after four contracts, here we are,” Blackburn said. “Through the labor and cooperative spirit of many, we were successful.”

State Sen. Ray S. Jones II spoke about the apparent support for the commercial air service initiative. He said in spite of those who doubt the service will work, he believes it is a worthwhile venture.

“I think the turnout, if you look around this room, it’s clear that the people of Eastern Kentucky support commercial air service,” Jones said. “We’ve always had people that were skeptical about Eastern Kentucky.”

Jones said there have been doubters for such ventures as the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Pikeville; Pikeville National Bank; and the continued growth of Pikeville Medical Center. He said those doubters have been silenced by those ventures’ successes and, he believes, they will be silenced again on commercial air service.

“I think when we look back a few years from now, the naysayers will be proven wrong yet again,” Jones said. “I think that this will be a hugely successful undertaking.”

Jones also addressed the airport board’s near-unanimous support of the commercial air service venture. He did not shy away from the fact that the venture was not universally accepted as viable and approved.

“When this project first came to my attention, it was pretty quickly obvious that there some folks who were naysayers, who were skeptics,” he said. “It’s okay to be skeptical of a new idea. It  is not okay to be an obstructionist.”

Jones went on to commend the members of the Pikeville-Pike County Airport Board who voted in favor of the contracts between the City of Pikeville, the airport board and the airline to establish the commercial service.

Absent from Jones’ recognition of the individual members of the airport board was member Brent Wagner, who voted against entering into the contracts.

Rogers, who began his remarks by complimenting Pike County for its resilience in establishing the air service, said the establishment of the service was both difficult and complicated. He complimented local officials for their workon the venture and said the dedication of those working on the initiative “typifies the kind of attitude that I love about the mountains of Kentucky.”

“I’ve learned one thing about Pike County and Pikeville: When you people set your mind to something, get out of the way, and this is one of those big times,” he said.

Beshear said the new service will breed opportunity for the region, which has traditionally been one of the most difficult to reach. He said many facets of the region will benefit from it.

“This daily service will support the coal industry and existing initiatives related to the health and higher education sectors of Eastern Kentucky, and even more importantly it’s going to open up new opportunities just like a new road or highway would do,” the governor said. “It’s part of our ongoing efforts to invest not only in the physical infrastructure of this region, but also in the people infrastructure, the human capital, in this region.”

The new air service is expected to depart Pikeville seven days per week upon its anticipated launch on March 3, utilizing 19-passenger Jetstream J32 turboprop airplanes. As part of the contract to lure the service, local officials agreed to a revenue guarantee agreement with the airline to compensate for unsold tickets.

Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Chairman Danny Vanhoose said he is confident that if the turnout for Wednesday’s event is an indication of the initiative’s support, funding may not be an issue. He also said the air service is an important part of the future economy of the region.

“Certainly, this is a key component to economic development, economic diversification,” Vanhoose said. “This is certainly something that is an absolute critical need that we’ve had.”

Airport board Chairman Bill Hickman spoke only briefly during Wednesday’s event, but used his time to encourage those in attendance to support the service.

“Buy tickets, please,” Hickman asked, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Article originally posted to the Williamson Daily News web site on October 6, 2013 http://williamsondailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?avis=LO&date=20131112&category=news&lopenr=311129973&Ref=AR 

Launching of commercial “Appalachian Air” Service in Pike County

Commercial flights to begin on March 3, 2014

by Rachel Baldwin rbaldwin@civitasmedia.com

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – What was once though to be only a pipe dream and an impossible feat is now becoming a reality for the residents of the Tug Valley area who hate the thought of traveling to Charleston, WV or Lexington, Ky. in order to board a commercial flight.

According to Air Service Project Consultant Luke Schmidt, March 3, 2014, is the date the first flight is scheduled to depart. Pikeville is just one step away from important destinations like Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., Dallas, plus many other destinations. More importantly, for the first time, companies interested in investing in this region will now find it much easier to get here, which will in turn make the location more appealing in a business sense.

Schmidt was quoted as saying that access to the global air service system is what the new service is all about, commenting that for example, coal company executives will be able to board a plane in Pikeville and after only two stops, meet with potential new markets in places such as China, India and Latin America.

Schmidt was joined at the ribbon cutting ceremony held last week at the airport by Ky. Governor Steve Beshear, U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, and several other state and local officials. The new Appalachian Air plane was unveiled during the festivities and was described as a sleek, high-performance British Aerospace BAE Jetstream 32 plane, and those in authority permitted 19 individuals to take a short, maiden flight.

Congressman Rogers was one of those who took the flight and said that it was truly a great day for not only Pike County but for all of Southeastern Kentucky and it’s surrounding areas, and encouraged people to utilize the service to make it a success.

Appalachian Air will provide one, round-trip flight every day of the week between the Pikeville-Pike County Airport and the Nashville, Tennessee International Airport. Once in Nashville, passengers may link with connecting flights that travel non-stop to over 50 major destinations in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The trip from Pikeville to Nashville is expected to take approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

For years, officials have been working toward bringing commercial flights to the local region and feel that this service will provide many conveniences to those that call Eastern Kentucky home.

Rules are being implemented that explain how passengers flying out of Pikeville will undergo security screenings before departing and will not be required to repeat the process once they arrive in Nashville. The airport authority will also offer free parking, as well as short check-in and security lines. All public charter flights are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which means that the federal government places strict limitations on the cancellation of public charter flights, as well as the fact that Appalachian Air passenger funds must be held in an escrow account approved by the government until the flight is complete.

For more information on the future flight plans for Pike County, you may visit their website at http://appalachianair.com.

Article originally posted to the WVLT-TV(Knoxville) web site on October 6, 2013 http://www.local8now.com/news/state/headlines/Pikeville-to-have-daily-air-service-to-Nashville-230966841.html 

Pikeville to have daily air service to Nashville 

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Eastern Kentucky residents will soon have daily passenger air service to Nashville, Tenn., from Pikeville.

Appalachian Air will provide round-trip service to Nashville starting March 3 from Pikeville-Pike County Regional Airport.

Gov. Steve Beshear and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers announced the service Wednesday.

Beshear said the service will open up one of the Kentucky’s more difficult areas to reach, allowing travelers to connect to Nashville’s air system in less than 1 1/2 hours.

Rogers said commercial air service will open up competitive opportunities for the region.

Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo said the service will be helpful in bringing more companies to eastern Kentucky.

Beshear’s office said the flights will be operated using a British Aerospace BAE Jetstream J32, which was unveiled during a ceremony at the airport Wednesday.

Article originally posted to the WMKY-FM (Morehead State University NPR station) web site on October 6, 2013 http://wmky.org/post/pikeville-nashville-air-service-begin-2014

Pikeville To Nashville Air Service To Begin In 2014

By Joshua Grandison and Dan Conti 

Appalachian Air will provide daily round-trip passenger service from the Pikeville-Pike County Regional Airport to Nashville this spring.  The announcement was made at a press conference in Pikeville on Wednesday (November 6).

Luke Schmidt is President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, a consulting firm which served as the air service project manager. He says the new service will begin March 3, 2014.

 “We will start with one daily round trip from Pikeville to Nashville. The outbound flight will depart early in the morning, probably around 6:30. It’s a little over an hour and fifteen minute flying time to Nashville and then once everybody gets there, they will have the opportunity to connect to any of the nine airlines that currently serve Nashville and fly on to fifty different non-stop destinations.” –Luke Schmidt

Schmidt says those destinations include cities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo says he hopes the new service will help lure more companies to the Mountain Region.

Article originally posted to the WSAZ-TV (Huntington/Charleston) web site on October 6, 2013 http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Offical_Update_Proposed_Pike_county_Air_Service_127518158.html

(Click on the link above to see video news report)

UPDATE 11/6/13 @ 3:30 p.m.
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WSAZ) — Scheduled commercial air service is now a reality in Pike County, Ky.

A ceremony formally announcing the air service was held Wednesday afternoon at the airport.

Beginning on March 3, 2014, Appalachian Air will provide one daily roundtrip flight between Pikeville-Pike County Regional Airport (PBX) and Nashville International Airport (BNA).

Upon arrival at BNA, passengers will be able to connect to any of the nine airlines which currently serve BNA with nonstop service to 50 major destinations throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, according to a news release from Gov. Steve Beshear.

The aircraft which will be used for the flights, a Jetstream J32, was also unveiled at the airport ceremony.

Donovan Blackburn, Pikeville City Manager, believes the air service will serve as a catalyst for continued growth in Pike County and Pikeville.

“The development of passenger air service has been a long held goal of the Pikeville community,” said Blackburn. “In fact, one can go back as far as 1968 to see when this issue was first discussed.”

“Scheduled passenger air service will open new opportunities for much of Eastern Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “What has historically been one of the more difficult regions of the Commonwealth to reach will now be less than an hour and a half flying time from connecting to the global air system in Nashville.”

“As we face a new era in eastern Kentucky and work to expand our industrial portfolio, this commercial air service launches us into the competitive market,” said Congressman Hal Rogers. “With new economic challenges ahead, we have to access greater opportunities, embrace new technology and create innovative strategies to shape our future, and this air service will provide unprecedented access to this important energy producing region.”

“Today’s announcement marks a major step forward for our region, and I am confident that this dedicated service will be widely used,” said House Speaker Greg Stumbo. “This will go a long way in helping us lure more companies to the mountains.”

Passengers boarding flights in Pikeville will undergo security screening and upon arrival in Nashville will deplane at a gate in the main terminal in a sterile area. Passengers will not have to go through any additional security screening in Nashville.

KSA1[1]                                                                                                

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Office of the Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Kerri Richardson

Governor’s Office

502.564.2611

Danielle Smoot

Congressman Roger’s Office

606.679.8346

Luke B. Schmidt

L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC

502.292.2898

Donovan Blackburn

City of Pikeville

606.205.9800

New Passenger Air Service Lands in Pikeville

New Service Will Serve as a Catalyst for Growth in Eastern Kentucky  

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2013) – Governor Steve Beshear and Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers announced today that Appalachian Air will provide daily roundtrip service to Nashville this spring.  The leaders joined the local work group leading the development of scheduled passenger air service in Eastern Kentucky at the announcement at the Pikeville – Pike County Regional Airport (PBX). 

The aircraft which will be used – a sleek, high performance British Aerospace BAE Jetstream J32 was also unveiled at the airport ceremony. 

Beginning on March 3, 2014, Appalachian Air will provide one daily roundtrip (Monday – Sunday) between PBX and Nashville International Airport (BNA).  Upon arrival at BNA, passengers will be able to connect to any of the nine airlines which currently serve BNA with nonstop service to 50 major destinations throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. 

“Scheduled passenger air service will open new opportunities for much of Eastern Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear.  “What has historically been one of the more difficult regions of the Commonwealth to reach will now be less than an hour and a half flying time from connecting to the global air system in Nashville. 

“As we face a new era in eastern Kentucky and work to expand our industrial portfolio, this commercial air service launches us into the competitive market,” said Congressman Hal Rogers. “With new economic challenges ahead, we have to access greater opportunities, embrace new technology and create innovative strategies to shape our future, and this air service will provide unprecedented access to this important energy producing region.” 

“Today’s announcement marks a major step forward for our region, and I am confident that this dedicated service will be widely used,” said House Speaker Greg Stumbo.  “This will go a long way in helping us lure more companies to the mountains.” 

The new flights will be operated as regularly scheduled public charter flights by two companies: Corporate Flight Management of Smyrna, TN, which will operate as the Direct Carrier and Public Charters, Inc. of Avoca, PA, which will operate as the Indirect Carrier.  A public charter flight is a form of commercial air travel where departure and arrival times, origin and destination airports and fares are advertised to the general public in accordance with a prospectus that the companies will file and which is approved by the United States Department of Transportation Special Authorities Division.  The prospectus essentially serves as a contract which binds the two companies to provide the service as promoted, and the service also provides unique consumer protections to passengers. 

Passengers boarding flights in Pikeville will undergo security screening and upon arrival in Nashville will deplane at a gate in the main terminal in a sterile area.  Passengers will not have to go through any additional security screening in Nashville. 

(Additional information concerning this new service accompanies this press release) 

Corporate Flight Management, the world’s largest operator of the BAE Jetstream J32 aircraft, will be responsible for all aspects of this new service related to flying, including providing the aircraft, the flight crew and aircraft maintenance.  Public Charters will be responsible for all non-flying aspects of the service, including ground handling of passengers and baggage, ticketing and ticket sales.  Through its contracts and distribution rights, Public Charters will sell tickets for passengers traveling to or from PBX on all of the leading online ticket sales platforms, such as Travelocity (ticket sales will also be available through telephone sales). 

“The development of passenger air service has been a long held goal of the Pikeville community,” said Donovan Blackburn, Pikeville City Manager.  “In fact, one can go back as far as 1968 to see when this issue was first discussed.  The new service to be provided by Appalachian Air will build on many exciting things which are underway in Pikeville, including the expansion of both the University of Pikeville, the Pikeville Medical Center and the new Pikeville Commons development and will serve as a catalyst for continued growth,” Blackburn continued. 

“This new service, while supporting the existing coal industry, will help the region to begin diversifying beyond coal,” said Luke B. Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, the Louisville-based consulting firm which served as the air service project manager.  “Companies interested in investing in this region will now find it easy to reach and this service will assist in creating new jobs. This project has been a team effort from the very beginning, and I want to congratulate my clients and colleagues for their efforts to bring Appalachian Air to Eastern Kentucky, including Donovan Blackburn, Pikeville City Manager, Bill Hickman, Pikeville – Pike County Airport Board Chairman, and, Jared Arnett, President & CEO of the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce,” said Schmidt. 

The City of Pikeville is a Fourth Class City and is the county seat of Pike County, the largest geographical county in Kentucky.  Pikeville is the regional center for education, employment, health care, manufacturing, mining, tourism and transportation in a region comprised of nine Kentucky counties, three Virginia counties and one West Virginia county with a combined population of 345,000 people.  The Pikeville – Pike County Airport Board owns and operates the city/county airport.  The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce represents 500 members in eight Kentucky counties and has established a support network for businesses in Southeast Kentucky that are committed to improving the local economy, regional unity, political advocacy and economic development.  These three entities by working together are leading efforts to establish scheduled commercial airline service in Eastern Kentucky.  L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC is a full-service management consulting company based in Louisville, Kentucky and provides consulting services to this group in the area of developing and facilitating passenger air service.