Abandoned Airports: Welch, West Virginia

hidden in the mountains of McDonald County is a flat spot large enough to land a plane because well that's what it was used for it used to be one of the busiest places around I mean the traffic was constant going to the airport years ago the Welch airport was a hub of activity multiple members of the community kept their own private aircraft there several planes I don't remember exactly how many but several planes several hangars as time passed fewer and fewer people were using the airport eventually the gates were shut large axes have been painted on both ends of the runway this lets planes know that the airport is closed according to the Federal Aviation Administration a closed status is not typically permanent and so I was privileged enough to go up and meet the helicopter so that was that was interesting but I it being closed is for that reason I don't want to abandon it or something like that once an airport is declared abandoned it is nearly impossible to return the runway to active service right now the site is used by a group of people who fly radio-controlled planes with special permission from the city otherwise the airport is off-limits right now the airport is closed to just anybody going on it for the simple reason insurance and while the airport's fate remains uncertain Welch mayor Reba Honecker doesn't want to see the property go to waste and I would love to see something happen up there because it's just too gorgeous a piece of land to just sit there though this historic airport nestled deep in McDowell County might be quiet for now many hope the sound of engines and the site of planes soaring high above Welch will return once again reporting in Welch meteorologist Mike Slifer 59 News you

Channel: Mike Slifer

Views: 8,412

Rating: 4.84375 out of 5

Keywords: meteorologist, mike, slifer, welch, wv, welch wv, west virginia, mcdowell county wva, welch airport

Id: G9ApcyngySQ

Length: 2min 13sec (133 seconds)

Published: Thu Jul 19 2018