|
Bradford Regional Airport unveils new air carrier during reception and flight to Cleveland
By FRAN De LANCEY
Era Correspondent
delancey401@yahoo.com
|
| Era photo by Francie Long |
|
|
| |
|
(Editor’s note: Era Correspondent Fran De Lancey and Era photographer Francie Long traveled from Bradford to Cleveland, Ohio, as part of a contingent aboard Bradford Regional Airport’s new air carrier Gulfstream International Airlines. The following is a first-hand account of the trip and related welcoming ceremony at the airport.)
Officials of Continental Airlines and Gulfstream International Airlines were at Bradford Regional Airport on Thursday for a reception welcoming Gulfstream to the airport.
Gulfstream, which actually initiated flights from Bradford on Wednesday, acts as a Continental Connection for Continental with direct flight to Cleveland’s Hopkins International Airport.
A Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,-based airline, Gulfstream offers six operations daily, Monday through Friday at Bradford, including three arrivals and three departures. Saturday’s schedule is one arrival and one departure, while on Sundays there are two arrivals and two departures.
Following refreshments in the airport terminal’s Dynamite Stop Restaurant, Airport Director Tom Frungillo welcomed airline, local leaders of government, education, business, tourism and the airport’s authority Representing Continental Airlines was Robyn Gilmartin, regional sales manager; and Mickey Bowman, vice president for corporate development for Gulfstream.
Among the county government officials attending were McKean County Commissioners Joe DeMott, Al Pingie and Judy Church, Cameron County Commissioners Glen Fiebig and Joanne Smith and Elk County Commissioner Dan Freeburg.
Representing the Bradford Regional Airport Authority were members DeMott, Freeburg, Max Brady, Rob Huber and John Satterwhite.
In his comments, Frungillo said that he expects a smooth transition as Gulfstream begins its service at the airport.
He also noted that some crews and planes will be based in Bradford and that Gulfstream has a maintenance facility at DuBois.
“Realizing that Continental stresses reliability, I can see additional direct flights from Bradford in the future,” Frungillo said.
DeMott, chairman of the McKean County Commissioners, shared Frungillo’s enthusiasm as the regional carrier begins it presence at Bradford, saying “I am optimistic about this new relationship with Gulfstream.”
Bowman, vice president for corporate development for Gulfstream, also spoke briefly.
“We’re delighted to be here and be the airline of choice for the Bradford community,” Bowman said. “You will see a new level of reliability that we bring to the table.”
For example, Bowman pointed to Gulfstream’s September record of 100 percent of controllable completed flights.
Just four flights were canceled due to weather, leading to an overall average of 99 percent rating for overall completed flights. Continental has 235 departures from Cleveland daily.
The invited guests and officials then moved to the airport’s lobby for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Taking part in that event were Frungillo, Gilmartin, Bowman, DeMott, Pingie and Church.
The rain that was in the area earlier had stopped when we boarded when we boarded Flight 9306 to Cleveland at 1 p.m. Besides Frungillo, DeMott, Brady and Huber, Francie Long and I made the trip. As we boarded the 19-passenger Beechcraft 1900D, we could stand straight as we walked to our seats. The plane was clean and the seats were comfortable. All but two seats were filled and passengers had a good view out the windows.
The plane was air conditioned and the cabin pressurized.
After taking off from Runway 14-32, the airport’s longest, we ascended through the clouds to reach our cruising altitude of 18,000 feet. Once above the clouds, the flight was very smooth.
Upon our arrival at Hopkins about an hour later, we deplaned at Concourse D25, which also serves Gulfstream’s flights from DuBois, Franklin, Jamestown, N.Y., and Lewisburg, WVa., and is next to Concourse C, that is occupied by Continental’s larger planes. This close proximity makes it especially easy for passengers making connecting flights on Continental.
Inside the airport, we were greeted by Continental personnel who led us on a brief tour of the airport, which is nine miles southwest of downtown Cleveland, but still inside the city limits
We visited The Presidents Club, a private area Continental has set aside from the busy airport. Here, passengers can work or relax between flights. The area is equipped with computers, fax machines, telephones, conference rooms, Internet access, lounge and a family room.
From there, we went to Continental’s Control Tower, which is separate from the airport’s main control tower and has vastly different responsibilities. We were greeted by an airline employee, who much to our surprise, knew that Bradford Area High School’s mascot’s name was the Owls and that Bradford was home to Zippo Manufacturing Co. and W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Co. knives.
From this tower, which is an informational center, employees handle operations planned for the next day and tracking planes that are slated for maintenance during the night. Baggage transfers and traffic on the airport ramps can also be coordinated from this tower.
“Ground control for Continental and some other airlines can ease the burden on the Federal Aviation Administration workers here,” said the tower spokesman.
During our walk through the airport, it was readily apparent that the flight information display system, those familiar television screens announcing arrivals and departures, were easier to read. Not only are the cities’ names and times in larger characters, but the units are located lower on the wall.
We boarded the same plane at 3:30 p.m. for the return to Bradford. Flight 9307 reached 17,000 feet. The pilot announced that we were 100 miles out when we began our descent to Bradford. Coming out of the clouds, we could see that many of the leaves in this area’s vast forest have not reached their brilliant fall foliage.
What a sight it was from the air to see the huge gap in the weather-damaged Kinzua Bridge.
Our return flight seemed shorter than the first one. When I questioned the co-pilot about this, he said, “We caught a tailwind.”
 printer friendly version
 e-mail this story
Reader Comments
There are No comments posted. comments to this story.
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bradfordera.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
|
