Greater Cumberland Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
Greater Cumberland Regional Airport is a public airport
located in the town of Wiley Ford
(population 1,095) in Mineral County, West Virginia
. It is two miles (3 km) south of the larger city of Cumberland
(population 21,518) in Allegany County, Maryland
. Although the airport is located in the Potomac Highlands
of West Virginia
, the FAA
lists this as a Maryland
airport.
The airport has not had commercial service from a major airline since US Airways Express
carrier Air Midwest
left in September 2001. But from 2001 the airport was served by a spin off of the former Pan Am Airways group until May 2003 when different factors caused Cumberland Airport to lose final air service
Located on the second level of the airport terminal is the Cohongaronta Gallery (Cohongaronta being a Shawnee
name for the Potomac River
). It contains an array of historical displays pertaining to the history of the Potomac Highlands area. The centerpiece of the gallery is a 40% scaled replica of the Wright Brothers
1903 Wright Flyer
that set the stage for aerial transportation. A 70 feet (21.3 m) time line highlights pertinent dates and events for the Potomac Highlands region. The gallery is open to the public during terminal business hours.
paved runway
s: 5/23 measuring 5,048 x 150 ft (1,539 x 46 m) and 11/29 measuring 2,442 x 150 ft (744 x 46 m).
For the 12-month period ending August 2, 2006, the airport had 14,300 aircraft operations, an average of 39 per day: 98% general aviation
and 2% military. There are 69 aircraft based at this airport: 81% single engine, 7% gliders
, 6% multi-engine, 3% jet aircraft and 3% helicopter
s.
The Cumberland Greater Regional Airport was used for a 1.6 miles (2.6 km) airport course run in Wiley Ford, West Virginia
(just south of Cumberland, Maryland
) in the 1950s and 1960s.
Currently National Road Autosport holds Autocross
events at the airport on a monthly basis.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in the town of Wiley Ford
Wiley Ford, West Virginia
Wiley Ford is a census-designated place in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States and part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'...
(population 1,095) in Mineral County, West Virginia
Mineral County, West Virginia
Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 28,212. Its county seat is Keyser.-Ancient history:...
. It is two miles (3 km) south of the larger city of Cumberland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
(population 21,518) in Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...
. Although the airport is located in the Potomac Highlands
Potomac Highlands of West Virginia
The Potomac Highlands of West Virginia centers on five counties in the upper Potomac River watershed in the western portion of the state's Eastern Panhandle, bordering Maryland and Virginia...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, the FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
lists this as a Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
airport.
The airport has not had commercial service from a major airline since US Airways Express
US Airways Express
US Airways Express is an airline brand name, rather than a fully certified airline, and as such, the US Airways Express name is used by several individually owned airlines or airline holding companies which provide regional airline and commuter service for US Airways.Operations are conducted from...
carrier Air Midwest
Air Midwest
Air Midwest, Inc., was a Federal Aviation Administration Part 121 certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number AMWA510A issued on May 15, 1965. It was headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, United States, and was a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group. It operated flights as US...
left in September 2001. But from 2001 the airport was served by a spin off of the former Pan Am Airways group until May 2003 when different factors caused Cumberland Airport to lose final air service
Located on the second level of the airport terminal is the Cohongaronta Gallery (Cohongaronta being a Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
name for the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
). It contains an array of historical displays pertaining to the history of the Potomac Highlands area. The centerpiece of the gallery is a 40% scaled replica of the Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
1903 Wright Flyer
Wright Flyer
The Wright Flyer was the first powered aircraft, designed and built by the Wright brothers. They flew it four times on December 17, 1903 near the Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, U.S.The U.S...
that set the stage for aerial transportation. A 70 feet (21.3 m) time line highlights pertinent dates and events for the Potomac Highlands region. The gallery is open to the public during terminal business hours.
Facilities and aircraft
Greater Cumberland Regional Airport covers an area of 314 acres (127.1 ha) which contains two asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
paved runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s: 5/23 measuring 5,048 x 150 ft (1,539 x 46 m) and 11/29 measuring 2,442 x 150 ft (744 x 46 m).
For the 12-month period ending August 2, 2006, the airport had 14,300 aircraft operations, an average of 39 per day: 98% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and 2% military. There are 69 aircraft based at this airport: 81% single engine, 7% gliders
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
, 6% multi-engine, 3% jet aircraft and 3% helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s.
Racing
Wiley Ford, West Virginia
Wiley Ford is a census-designated place in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States and part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'...
(just south of Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
) in the 1950s and 1960s.
Currently National Road Autosport holds Autocross
Autocross
Autocross is a form of motorsports that emphasizes safe competition and active participation. An autocross is a timed competition where drivers navigate one at a time through a defined course on either sealed or unsealed surfaces...
events at the airport on a monthly basis.
External links
- Greater Cumberland Regional Airport (official web site)
- Greater Cumberland Regional Airport at West Virginia Airport Directory