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Commercial Air Service From Pikeville to Nashville Officially Takes Flight WEKU-FM (Eastern Kentucky University NPR Radio)

Article originally posted to the WEKU-FM web site http://weku.fm/post/commercial-air-service-pikeville-nashville-officially-takes-flight

By Stu Johnson WEKU News

New Commercial Airline Service in Pikeville Could Bring Economic Benefits

The official launch of Appalachian Air occurred earlier this week in eastern Kentucky.  Officials are hopeful new daily commercial air travel between Pikeville and Nashville will allow for new economic development in the region.  Luke Schmidt is a Project Consultant for Pikeville Air.  “It will now become easier for people who want to travel to Pikeville and eastern Kentucky from other business centers around the country, including people who might be representing companies that are interested in investing in the region, maybe building a factory, creating new jobs,” said Schmidt.

Schmidt says present day economic development is all about access and travelling from corporate headquarters to remote operations. Schmidt says a person travelling from Pikeville could make it to Los Angeles before noon Pacific Time.  “You can get on the plane at Pikeville at 6:30 in the morning, arrive in Nashville about 7:00 a.m. with the time change and Central Time. And then you can connect with 50 some odd cities from Nashville,” added Schmidt.

Listen to the interview by clicking on the following link:

http://weku.fm/post/commercial-air-service-pikeville-nashville-officially-takes-flight

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Appalachian Air Takes Off WOWK-TV (Charleston/Huntington)

Article originally posted to the WOWK-TV web site http://www.wowktv.com/story/27060556/appalachian-air-takes-off

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Appalachian Air is celebrating its first round-trip commercial flight.

WYMT-TV reports the airline flew from Pikeville, Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday and returned about 12 hours later.

The maiden flight had fewer than 10 aboard, but Appalachian Air officials say they think seats will fill up as more people learn about the service. The Jetstream J32 turboprop aircraft holds 19 passengers.

Appalachian Air spokesman Luke Schmidt says officials hope that bringing commercial air service to eastern Kentucky will help the economy.

The flight came about six months later than originally planned because airport officials had to wait to get the proper certifications.

The service will offer daily flights from Pikeville to Nashville.

Information from: Appalachian News-Express, http://www.news-expressky.com

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Appalachian Air takes off from Pikeville to Nashville Lexington Herald-Leader

Article originally posted to the Lexington Herald-Leader web site http://www.kentucky.com/2014/10/28/3505445/appalachian-air-takes-off.html

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Appalachian Air is celebrating its first round-trip commercial flight.

WYMT-TV reports the airline flew from Pikeville, Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday and returned about 12 hours later.

The maiden flight had fewer than 10 aboard, but Appalachian Air officials say they think seats will fill up as more people learn about the service. The Jetstream J32 turboprop aircraft holds 19 passengers.

Appalachian Air spokesman Luke Schmidt says officials hope that bringing commercial air service to eastern Kentucky will help the economy.

“We think that by connecting Pikeville and Eastern Kentucky to the global air system, it will help create jobs,” Schmidt said. “It will help people interested in investing in the region to get here and find out what a great community it is and what is available here.”

The flight came about six months later than originally planned because airport officials had to wait to get the proper certifications.

Skip Holmes with the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce was aboard the flight and said landing close to home was the best part.

“Being able to come here, get in my car, be in my easy chair in 15 minutes, that’s perfect,” Holmes said.

The service will offer daily flights from Pikeville to Nashville.

Meanwhile, the Appalachian News-Express reports that officials are still working with the Transportation Safety Administration in an effort to get screeners at the airport.

Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn called the start of air service in Pikeville a “great day.”

“The development of commercial air service in Pikeville has been a community goal going all the way back to 1968,” he said in a statement. “The City of Pikeville appreciates the commitment and the investment that both Corporate Flight Management and Public Charters have made to the city. Now we want anyone who is planning a trip by air to first consider flying Appalachian Air, no matter where you are going. Chances are you will be able to fly right out of Pikeville and avoid the six hour roundtrip drive to Lexington.”

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Appalachian Air completes first commercial flight from Pikeville to Nashville WYMT-TV (Hazard)

Article originally posted to the WYMT-TV web site http://www.wkyt.com/yourtown/locations/pike/headlines/Appalachian-Air-takes-trial-flight-from-Pikeville-to-Nashville–245305681.html

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) Update: 10/27/14

Monday marked the beginning of a new era in transportation in Eastern Kentucky with the first round trip commercial flight between Pikeville and Nashville.

The plane left Pikeville/Pike County Regional Airport at 6:30 a.m. Monday and returned about 12 hours later.

“The community has had a long-held goal to bring commercial air service to the mountains and today was the day we made it happen, so it’s a big day,” Appalachian Air spokesman Luke Schmidt said.

“We think that by connecting Pikeville and Eastern Kentucky to the global air system, it will help create jobs,” Schmidt said. “It will help people interested in investing in the region to get here and find out what a great community it is and what is available here.”

Fewer than 10 people were aboard Monday’s flight, but Appalachian Air officials are optimistic seats will start filling up as more people hear about the service.

Skip Holmes with the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce made the round trip Monday. He said the best part is being close to his home in Floyd County when the plane lands instead of having to drive back from the airports in Lexington or Louisville.

“Being able to come here, get in my car, be in my easy chair in 15 minutes, that’s perfect,” Holmes said.

Right now, one round trip flight per day is scheduled to leave Pikeville every morning at 6:30.

To book a flight and look up ticket costs, visit AppalachianAir.com.

To watch the television news story, please click on the following link:

http://www.wkyt.com/yourtown/locations/pike/headlines/Appalachian-Air-takes-trial-flight-from-Pikeville-to-Nashville–245305681.html

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Appalachian Air to launch first flight from Pikeville on Monday The Lane Report

Article originally posted to The Lane Report web site http://www.lanereport.com/40567/2014/10/appalachian-air-to-launch-first-flight-from-pikeville-on-monday/

Inaugural flight will go to Nashville

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 24, 2014) — Appalachian Air is ready to launch its inaugural first flight from Pikeville. The first flight, from Pikeville to Nashville International Airport, is scheduled for leave Kentucky at 6:55 a.m. on Oct. 27. Flight time will be a little more than one hour. The new service is operated by Public Charters Inc. of Avoca, Pa,. and Corporate Flight Management of Smyrna, Tenn.

“After nearly four years of planning, recruiting, meetings, teleconferences, addressing regulatory hurdles, etc., on the part of our community and air service partners, we are ready to launch the very first commercial air flight from Pikeville and Eastern Kentucky,” said Luke B. Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, the Louisville-based consulting firm that has been facilitating the development of air service in Pikeville for the City of Pikeville, the Pikeville – Pike County Airport Board, and the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “Everything is set and we are ready to welcome our first passengers on board the Jetstream J32.”

Appalachian Air will launch the service with one daily roundtrip (the return flight departs BNA at 4:30 PM CDT and arrives back in Pikeville at 6:55 PM EDT).  The Appalachian Air aircraft will overnight each night at the Pikeville – Pike County Regional Airport.

“This is a great day for the City of Pikeville,” said Donovan Blackburn, Pikeville City Manager. “The development of commercial air service in Pikeville has been a community goal going all the way back to 1968.”

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Appalachian Air sets date for takeoff WYMT-TV (Hazard)

Originally posted to the WYMT-TV web site on September 19, 2014 http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Appalachian-Air-sets-date-for-takeoff-275658861.html

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

Pikeville, Ky. (WYMT))– Appalachian Air has set a date for its first flight to Nashville.

That first daily flight is set to depart Pikeville on October 27 at about 6:30 in the morning.

“The real benefit, I believe, that the service is going to provide is it’s going to link Pikeville and Pike County to the global air system via the Nashville airport,” said Luke Schmidt, a consultant who has worked on getting commercial flights in Pikeville.

He believes this will be a viable operation because research indicated a number of travelers in Eastern Kentucky who went to other airports farther away than Pikeville for air service.

“We know the market exists because we did a very extensive market profile,” said Schmidt.

Tammy Riley, who serves as campus director for National College in Pikeville believes the service will make for more efficient operations for her school.

“Being attached to a multi-campus university, we find that there are individuals at regional and national level that need to travel to all of those campuses, one being my campus in Pikeville,” said Riley.

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Third time charmed? Appalachian Air sets new takeoff date; web site goes live (Pikeville) Appalachian News-Express

Third time charmed?

Article was originally posted on September 19, 2014 to the (Pikeville) Appalachian News-Express web site http://news-expressky.com/edition/

Appalachian Air sets new takeoff date; web site goes live

Appalachian Air may soon be ready to fly.

Officials announced Thursday that the long languishing commercial air service project is set to take off on Monday, Oct. 27, and begin daily round-trip commercial operation to Nashville from the Pikeville-Pike County Regional Airport. It was also announced that the Appalachian Air website is now live and bookings for flights will begin in October.

The new launch date is the third date set by organizers of the project since the project was announced, but during Thursday’s announcement event, officials said they are now ready for Appalachian Air’s wheels to leave the ground. The new date comes after months of delays officials have blamed on government regulations and processes.

One of those officials was Consultant Luke Schmidt, who has worked on the commercial air service project since its inception. He said the service will launch on the new date.

“No more delays,” Schmidt said. “You’re not going to hear us two weeks from now say, ‘Uh oh, we can’t do it.’ We’re here, the plane’s coming and so we better be ready, and we will be.”

Schmidt said the first revenue flight will depart from Pikeville on the morning of Oct. 27 and the first inbound flight will arrive in Pikeville that evening. The plane, he said, will overnight in Pikeville for the next morning’s flight.

However, one of the major selling points of the service — “sterile” baggage service from Pikeville to the customer’s ultimate destination — may not be available on the launch date. Schmidt said the plans for baggage screening by the Transportation Safety Administration have been submitted to the TSA’s office in Louisville and they are reviewing the plans. They have not yet been approved, however, and the organizers of Appalachian Air are still waiting on that approval. Schmidt added, though, that the process is progressing.

“They are working that issue through right now and they’re well aware of our start date and I’m told they are working to try to and accommodate us for that,” he said. “The other part is the airport security plan, which we drafted … we submitted that back about the first of the year (and) that’s been accepted.

“So, half of it’s done, the other half is almost done,” he said.

David Lucas, the president of consulting firm DL Group, said Public Charters, for whom his company performing consultation work, is committed to launching the service on the new launch date.

“Oct. 27th; we mean it, we’re ready to go,” he said.

Lucas said delays in the project have made the public skeptical to promises the service is ready to take off. He added, however, that planned promotions — including a limited time 50 percent off promotion which will be active upon the service’s launch — will help in letting the public know the service is ready to go.

“It’s been a long time in coming,” Lucas said. “You’ve been hearing about it … We want to show you and we have a number of promotional programs that we’re going to roll out one right after the other.”

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Results of unified government study to be released this week (Somerset) Commonwealth Journal

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.

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Scheduled commercial air service is now a reality in Pike County, KY WSAZ-TV (Huntington/Charleston) web site

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.