I know that this is just going to turn into a seething Murtha hate-fest, but before that starts I'd just like to say that the key to renovating air travel in this country is to build many small regional airports that all interconnect with one another instead of increasingly relying on a few, supremely overcrowded hubs.

Not to say that all the money being spent on this particular airport has been wisely allocated, but still.

There are three flights a day -- all of them to Washington's Dulles International Airport

That's a nice way to get around being hassled over using a private jet.

Pocket Ninja: build many small regional airports that all interconnect with one another instead of increasingly relying on a few, supremely overcrowded hubs.

Which Southwest has been doing for years, profitably. Funny to see that their "backfill" strategy has been to fly into airports used by the larger carriers (but only because demand made it possible).

NikolaiFarkoff: Which Southwest has been doing for years, profitably

Yes, but I hate flying Southwest. I want to know where my seat is going to be, damnit. And I like the occasional chance to upgrade.

Pocket Ninja: I know that this is just going to turn into a seething Murtha hate-fest, but before that starts I'd just like to say that the key to renovating air travel in this country is to build many small regional airports that all interconnect with one another instead of increasingly relying on a few, supremely overcrowded hubs.

Not to say that all the money being spent on this particular airport has been wisely allocated, but still.

Keep your logic and reasonable opinions off my Poltics tab, you non-partisan hack. What's the opposite of WHARRGARBL? That's you.

Boy that guy should really marry someone with the last name Focker so his wife will be Mrs. John Murtha Focker

Pocket Ninja: that the key to renovating air travel in this country is to build many small regional airports that all interconnect with one another instead of increasingly relying on a few, supremely overcrowded hubs.

If you build it, they will come.

It's also good that we have all these in the event of emergency landings. Granted, the chances are incredibly low, but I'll bet everyone on a plane that has to suddenly come down would be glad that runway was there when they needed it.

Pocket Ninja: I know that this is just going to turn into a seething Murtha hate-fest, but before that starts I'd just like to say that the key to renovating air travel in this country is to build many small regional airports that all interconnect with one another instead of increasingly relying on a few, supremely overcrowded hubs.

I'm looking forward to another generation or two of battery improvements, then we get at least electric private aircraft, which will generate almost no noise, have very few moving parts, and no fire or explosion danger when they crash. Then you'll see new airports popping up all over.

Dancin_In_Anson: If you build it, they will come.

Not true. I put a stripper pole in my living room, and it's as of yet stripper-free. The disembodied voice LIED.

Pocket Ninja: I know that this is just going to turn into a seething Murtha hate-fest, but before that starts I'd just like to say that the key to renovating air travel in this country is to build many small regional airports that all interconnect with one another instead of increasingly relying on a few, supremely overcrowded hubs.

Not to say that all the money being spent on this particular airport has been wisely allocated, but still.

I agree with you, but the problem here is that Murtha has developed a well-earned reputation as a master of bringing home pork, and when the airport's only purpose seems to be to have three flights a week to and from Dulles, it's not helping matters.

Pocket Ninja: I know that this is just going to turn into a seething Murtha hate-fest, but before that starts I'd just like to say that the key to renovating air travel in this country is to build many small regional airports that all interconnect with one another instead of increasingly relying on a few, supremely overcrowded hubs.

Not to say that all the money being spent on this particular airport has been wisely allocated, but still.

Interesting point. But we can start the hatefest now, right?

I think any active-duty member of the military should be legally allowed to kick John Murtha in the balls once he gets out of prison where we should send him for ABSCAM, even all these years later.

And the rest of the country should be legally entitled to kick his constituents in the balls for being such dumbasses.

This "airport for nobody" is the equivalent of the "bridge to nowhere".

notmtwain: This "airport for nobody" is the equivalent of the "bridge to nowhere".

Sounds like it cost less money, but the point is valid.

Hender: Dancin_In_Anson: If you build it, they will come.

Not true. I put a stripper pole in my living room, and it's as of yet stripper-free. The disembodied voice LIED.

It's all about location. The stripper pole in my living room has been extremenly successful.

vossiewulf: I'm looking forward to another generation or two of battery improvements, then we get at least electric private aircraft, which will generate almost no noise, have very few moving parts, and no fire or explosion danger when they crash. Then you'll see new airports popping up all over.

1. We've already got diesel private aircraft (Cessna) available right now--very little explosion danger on those. But just like electric batteries, the issue is weight. IIRC, the Germans mothballed them in WWII because of this (plus the fuel crunch)

2. Most of the noise coming from a modern aircraft (except at takeoff) is usually from the air flowing over the prop or the leading fan blades. Modern airliners get most of their thrust from the blades, as opposed to the "hot" jet exhaust. So those things will probably not go away for a long time.

/really hope you weren't just joking around

The federal government made a small airport in Massachusetts tear up its runway. Runways are terrorist tools. Complying with federal security regulations is expensive and time-consuming, more expensive than concrete. The airport didn't get enough paying commercial traffic to afford a runway in a post-9/11 world.

lunchinlewis: so I have no idea why it doesn't get a lot of traffic, other than maybe it is not near anything people want to go to.

bingo. johnstown area has more deer than people

lunchinlewis: Pocket Ninja: key to renovating air travel in this country is to build many small regional airports that all interconnect

There are many small regional airports, and they interconnect by default anytime a plane flies between two of them.



In this case, it seems kind of underutilized. With a main runway at 7000 feet, it's perfect for small regional jet traffic, so I have no idea why it doesn't get a lot of traffic, other than maybe it is not near anything people want to go to.

Hmmm... Johnstown... why do I remember Johnstown, PA?



Oh yeah! The town wiped out because plutocrats couldn't be bothered to repair the dam that held back their private lake.

Ain't capitalism grand?

Occam's Chainsaw: Oh yeah! The town wiped out because plutocrats couldn't be bothered to repair the dam that held back their private lake.

Ain't capitalism grand?

You sure that's not New Orleans? Oh yeah! The town that was wiped out because money was misspent on things other than levees?

Ain't government grand?

Dancin_In_Anson: Occam's Chainsaw: Oh yeah! The town wiped out because plutocrats couldn't be bothered to repair the dam that held back their private lake.

Ain't capitalism grand?

You sure that's not New Orleans? Oh yeah! The town that was wiped out because money was misspent on things other than levees?

Ain't government grand?

A-farking-men.

Dancin_In_Anson: Fair enough. I'll admit that a goodly number of our "public servants" deserve to swing for gross negligence, if you'll admit that the same applies to the captains of industry. Deal?

Skail: It's also good that we have all these in the event of emergency landings. Granted, the chances are incredibly low, but I'll bet everyone on a plane that has to suddenly come down would be glad that runway was there when they needed it.

Lets build a series of Anti-Alien Bunkers to hide people in case of an attack by aliens. Sure the chances of an attack by aliens is small but those people saved by the bunkers will be glad they were built

Occam's Chainsaw: Fair enough. I'll admit that a goodly number of our "public servants" deserve to swing for gross negligence, if you'll admit that the same applies to the captains of industry. Deal?

Deal. Now how many public servants are going to get hauled to court and have their asses sued off for said negligence? Not a single farking one. You and I will foot that bill. When captains of industry get hauled in to pay for their negligence, you and I don't get stuck with that bill.

Dancin_In_Anson: When captains of industry get hauled in to pay for their negligence, you and I don't get stuck with that bill.

Now you really are being too obvious. Subtlety is your friend.

Now we know where the next Fark party should be.

Pocket Ninja: I know that this is just going to turn into a seething Murtha hate-fest, but before that starts I'd just like to say that the key to renovating air travel in this country is to build many small regional airports that all interconnect with one another instead of increasingly relying on a few, supremely overcrowded hubs.

Or we could spend some money on our rail system, link it to regional cities and major airports and you wouldn't need "puddle jumper" airports.

Also: Murtha should DIAF or GTFO. He's the most corrupt politician in a state full of them.

Dancin_In_Anson: Deal. Now how many public servants are going to get hauled to court and have their asses sued off for said negligence? Not a single farking one. You and I will foot that bill. When captains of industry get hauled in to pay for their negligence, you and I don't get stuck with that bill.

Assuming said captains don't work for Wal-Mart, ExxonMobil, AIG... You think private corporations don't anticipate potential legal ramifications of their actions and budget accordingly?

So what kinds of black ops military aircraft are landing there at night?

/joking
//hey why did all those black SUVs just pull up?

I live in Johnstown, so I'm really getting a kick...

I really do live here though. And say what you will about Murtha, but consider this: The primary job of a representative is to meet the needs of the people, and keep the district well. There was almost NOTHING but poverty here for a loooong time. Murtha has managed, through methods many disagree with, to bring a lot of money and jobs to this place. In fact, Murtha's improvements are all that separates this place from complete sub-poverty Kentucky-ism.

I think that a lot of the complaints boil down to, "why send money THERE? that place sucks!" But honestly, the only way to make it suck less IS to draw in money.

It's a Democrat so nobody cares, particularly not any of the hypocrites who complained about the bridge to nowhere and we certainly didn't hear about this before the election last year.

But hey, when Murtha and Obama both insult the people of Pennsylvania and they still vote for them, I somehow doubt Murtha wasting 150 million dollars on a vainglorious airport would turn them off.

Hang On Voltaire: Skail: It's also good that we have all these in the event of emergency landings. Granted, the chances are incredibly low, but I'll bet everyone on a plane that has to suddenly come down would be glad that runway was there when they needed it.

Lets build a series of Anti-Alien Bunkers to hide people in case of an attack by aliens. Sure the chances of an attack by aliens is small but those people saved by the bunkers will be glad they were built

Replace "aliens" with "zombies" and I'm with you.

Great. Now I have a choice of airports to fly into and then drive an hour and a half to see kin in Murraysville.

Why is Appalachia the pork capital of the United States?

So let me get this straight.

We spent money that helped revitalize an area, created jobs, and is a semi-permanent improvement?

And it cost 1/10,000 of the bank bailout?

I don't see the problem here.

While I love ripping on gov't...the commercial operations at JST represent only 2% of the total traffic. The airport sees roughly 163 operations per day including general aviation (the bulk of most air traffic in the United States).

Pocket Ninja: I know that this is just going to turn into a seething Murtha hate-fest, but before that starts I'd just like to say that the key to renovating air travel in this country is to build many small regional airports that all interconnect with one another instead of increasingly relying on a few, supremely overcrowded hubs.

Not to say that all the money being spent on this particular airport has been wisely allocated, but still.

I disagree. I think the high speed train connecting major regional metropolitan passing through these regional destinations is the correct answer.

LasersHurt: I live in Johnstown, so I'm really getting a kick...

I really do live here though. And say what you will about Murtha, but consider this: The primary job of a representative is to meet the needs of the people, and keep the district well. There was almost NOTHING but poverty here for a loooong time. Murtha has managed, through methods many disagree with, to bring a lot of money and jobs to this place. In fact, Murtha's improvements are all that separates this place from complete sub-poverty Kentucky-ism.

I think that a lot of the complaints boil down to, "why send money THERE? that place sucks!" But honestly, the only way to make it suck less IS to draw in money.

I have no problem with what you say, but why an airport? It seems that the money could have been spent bringing some sort of industry into the area. How many people work at this airport? Is it there to make it easier for Murtha to go home on weekends?

Dancin_In_Anson: Occam's Chainsaw: Fair enough. I'll admit that a goodly number of our "public servants" deserve to swing for gross negligence, if you'll admit that the same applies to the captains of industry. Deal?

Deal. Now how many public servants are going to get hauled to court and have their asses sued off for said negligence? Not a single farking one. You and I will foot that bill. When captains of industry get hauled in to pay for their negligence, you and I don't get stuck with that bill.

That's the funniest thing I've ever read. Where do think the money from the bailout has been FLOODING into, Social Security? No, to bail out a bunch of assholes that don't know how to run a business without screwing everyone in the process. So who's footing the bill?

randomjsa: It's a Democrat so nobody cares, particularly not any of the hypocrites who complained about the bridge to nowhere and we certainly didn't hear about this before the election last year.

Horseshiate. See my post above. Murtha's one of the most hasted men in the state.

LasersHurt: I really do live here though. And say what you will about Murtha, but consider this: The primary job of a representative is to meet the needs of the people, and keep the district well. There was almost NOTHING but poverty here for a loooong time. Murtha has managed, through methods many disagree with, to bring a lot of money and jobs to this place. In fact, Murtha's improvements are all that separates this place from complete sub-poverty Kentucky-ism.

Ah, the "it's not pork if my area benefits" justification.

I_Fly_Planes: The airport sees roughly 163 operations per day including general aviation (the bulk of most air traffic in the United States).

I don't fly planes, but if you felt like elaborating, I would listen.

notmtwain: This "airport for nobody" is the equivalent of the "bridge to nowhere".

My headline, let me show you it.

I went to college in a small town in Appalachia not all that far from Johnstown. The nearest major airport was either Pittsburgh or Dulles.

It was a 2.5 hour drive to the nearest city.

I don't think driving an hour to Pittsburgh airport is that big of a deal.

Murtha is a fat bloviating pig.

Hey simmer down now. $18M is a mere pittance...or an astronomically huge amount, depending on the daily flavor of shiat we're fed.

TFA: "It's a breeze to get through security, [there are] no crowds and it's right in your back yard," one passenger told ABC News.

I flew out of this airport once (getting a kick, etc.). When I walked through the front door the lady doing the check in at the counter greeted me by name.

They used to have flights to and from Pittsburgh and Cleveland. I take it from the article that this is no longer the case?

so it's an Essential Air Service airport as well. so those flights that do go in there are subsidized.

like Skail said, I guess it's close enough to the NYC/Phila metro area that it would make a safe emergency alternate but beyond that what's the point?

LasersHurt: I live in Johnstown, so I'm really getting a kick...

I really do live here though. And say what you will about Murtha, but consider this: The primary job of a representative is to meet the needs of the people, and keep the district well. There was almost NOTHING but poverty here for a loooong time. Murtha has managed, through methods many disagree with, to bring a lot of money and jobs to this place. In fact, Murtha's improvements are all that separates this place from complete sub-poverty Kentucky-ism.

I think that a lot of the complaints boil down to, "why send money THERE? that place sucks!" But honestly, the only way to make it suck less IS to draw in money.

bubbaprog: So let me get this straight.

We spent money that helped revitalize an area, created jobs, and is a semi-permanent improvement?

And it cost 1/10,000 of the bank bailout?

I don't see the problem here.

I live in BF North Dakota. If we spent $150 million on our airport with government funds, people would go apeshiat, and we have 4 flights a day to MSP that are always, ALWAYS packed. In addition, we're a central location, so if the whole "emergency runway" thing were actually realistic, it would make more sense to make ours long enough to handle something bigger than a DC9 or MD80.

The problem that I have with both of your statements is that is it up to all of the taxpayers of the US to revitalize one area when it certainly doesn't serve the rest of the nation? ND receives a lot more in Fed dollars than we pay in, but one could argue that the bulk of that money goes into agriculture, and it serves the entire populace of the US and a large part of the world (see our grain exports for citation).

I understand that it is Murtha's job to bring jobs and help out an impoverished location in his district, but it should still be done in such a way that it helps on more than just a local level. If he built an interstate in the area that allowed travel more easily for shipping, etc. in that area of the country, and it lead to better economic circumstances for that particular area of the state, great! But to build an airport, and then staff it with (I assume) full time TSA and stuff like that when it serves no real purpose, is still a waste of money and an abuse of tax payer dollars.

Roger Arseways: so it's an Essential Air Service airport as well. so those flights that do go in there are subsidized.

like Skail said, I guess it's close enough to the NYC/Phila metro area that it would make a safe emergency alternate but beyond that what's the point?

Yeah, F*ck poor people. What have they ever done anyway.

I like how the reporter had to take a flight just to tell us from a plane that taxpayers had paid as much as he had for his fare. Something makes me want to take all my frustration out on that idiot.