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]

For other Mercer County airports, see Mercer County Airport (disambiguation).
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 is located in West Virginia
BLF
BLF
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 4,743 1,446 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Aircraft operations (year ending 7/11/2023)16,400
Based aircraft21

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 511 acres (207 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 July 11, 2023, the airport had 16,400 aircraft operations, average 45 per day: 88% general aviation, 11% air taxi, and <1% military. 21 aircraft were then based at this airport: 15 single-engine, 5 helicopter, and 1 ultralight.[1]

Former airlines

Accidents at BLF
  • On April 12, 1961, a Douglas DC-3 operated by US Steel Corp. was damaged beyond repair in a runway excursion and went over an embankment. There were no fatalities or injuries.[8]
  • On January 21, 1981, a Cessna Citation I operated by Georgia-Pacific Corp. crashed after an attempted go-around on a slushy runway, overran the runway, struck three localizer antennas and a 10 foot embankment before plunging into a steep wooded hillside. All five occupants were killed.[9]

See also

References
  1. FAA Airport Form 5010 for BLF PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective September 7, 2023.
  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.
  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.
  5. "Enplanements for CY 2007" (PDF). CY 2007 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. September 26, 2008.
  6. "Flying Service To Begin Flights". Kingsport Times-News. Kingsport, Tennessee. 14 Aug 1977 – via newspapers.com.
  7. Aeromech timetbles 1982 & 1983
  8. Accident description for N541S at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on September 16, 2023.
  9. Accident description for N501GP at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on September 16, 2023.

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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