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Airport runway project lifts off
Pomonkey facility gets funds for expansion
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by EMILY BARNES
U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, left, walks out of the hangar with co-owner of Maryland Airport Gil Bauserman and his great-granddaughter, Amanda Hill before the ground-breaking ceremony at the airport Friday.
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Federal, state and local leaders pulled out umbrellas and hiked up their pants legs during Friday's rains as Charles County celebrated the start of construction for the $30 million expansion of Maryland Airport.
"They say be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it," said Sen. Thomas "Mac" Middleton (D-Charles). "If you listen to economists … Charles County … [is] in store for a lot of development. I think opportunities are going to be knocking on your door."
While the ceremonial groundbreaking took place last week, official digging on the 4,300 foot runway will begin June 15. The runway is currently 3,000 feet long.
The expansion includes a taxiway, aircraft parking apron and automobile access road.
The $30 million price tag covers the total expenses for the updated airfield. This first phase of construction will use $3.6 million of the $30 million and helps cover the cost of the new runway. Availability of half of the $3.6 million in federal funds was announced in February.
Ninety-five percent of the total cost is covered by the Federal Aviation Administration through its airport improvement program, and the remaining 5 percent is evenly split between the state's aviation administration and the owners of the airport, Bauserman Services Inc.
The AIP is funded by revenues from airport user fees and fuel taxes.
"Congress puts in place a program to help the national system of airports," explained Terry Page, manager for the FAA's Washington Airport District Office. "We are not taking the average taxpayers' dollars. It's from people who use [the system]."
Christopher Jaeger, a civil engineer with Talbert and Bright – the planning and engineering consultants for the airport — said the expansion has received permits from the Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
"There have been multiple layers of environmental review and multiple environmental agencies involved," Jaeger said.
Erosion control has been considered with the Charles Soil Conservation District, as have the wetlands located on the airport property.
Built between 1944 and 1945 by Charles A. Bauserman, the airport is now run by stepfather and son duo, Jack Crawford and Gil Bauserman, respectively.
For more than 60 years, the people using Maryland Airport have been a mixture of recreational pilots and corporate travelers, Gil Bauserman said.
Within the past 20 years, Bauserman has been working with the county to expand the airport to meet the needs of an economically developing jurisdiction.
Only 45 minutes from Washington, D.C., the airport could also be used as an alternative for businessmen and -women headed to the nation's capital who don't want the hassle of flying into a crowded major airport.
Bauserman said the runway is being extended with the most popular corporate aircraft — the King Air 200 — in mind.
The extension will be able to handle planes weighing up to 30,000 pounds, and allows for safer takeoffs and landings for the larger planes.
"There are some people here today who probably had doubts about this project, but I didn't," Bauserman said.
"This is going to be a great airport. It's going to create jobs for our youth; not necessarily at the airfield, but at businesses located around it," said Charles County commissioners' President F. Wayne Cooper (D).
"We all know this is a shot in the arm for economic development on the western side of the county," said Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II (D).
Bauserman said the airport will remain open despite the construction. The only change will be a reduced runway for a short period of time.
Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D) said the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland — for which he serves as chairman — has listed a terminal to meet the expansion's projected increase in traffic, as a priority for federal stimulus funds. The council petitioned Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) last December for nearly $10 million to fund the terminal project.
"We need to invest in the right type of investments," said U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.). "We need to continue to fight for what is right in this economy. You want good jobs. You want the leadership to bring those jobs to the county; and we're with you."
