Air Azul has maiden Somerset flight

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December 27, 2008

By CHRIS HARRIS, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Sat Dec 27, 2008, 07:08 PM EST

Somerset — As in airport terminals all across the country, a group of recognizable local citizens milled around Saturday morning, waiting for permission to board their flight. No long lines at baggage check or security scans required — it’s safe to say each member of this boarding party could be safely vouched for — but otherwise, just a normal day at a commercial flight-carrying airport.

In fact, it was the very first commercial flight out of Lake Cumberland Regional Airport.

“This is one small step for Air Azul,” said Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, one of those on the maiden voyage, “and one giant leap for Somerset.”

Along with Rogers, a number of local dignitaries turned out to take a ride on “The City of Somerset” — the name of the Metro III twin-engine turboprop plane utilized by Florida-based commuter service Air Azul — to Nashville at 8 a.m.

There wasn’t much fanfare — the speeches were given back on Dec. 15, at the open house held at the new glass-enclosed terminal off Kit Cowan Road — but those in attendance were still plenty excited about the opportunity to fly the friendly skies after such a short drive.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” said Rogers. “I’ve been looking forward to this for 15 years.”

The Congressman, whose efforts securing grants were instrumental in making scheduled commercial flights out of the local airport a reality, talked about how much went into making this happen — money for widening and extending the runway, building taxi-ways, relocating the road to make room for the airport, building the terminal, getting an instrument landing system and fire protection, then bringing in the essential air service grant to the tune of $1 million annually that subsidizes the flights and helps develop the project — and then, of course, finding a carrier with interest, which turned out to be Air Azul.

“It’s been a long, hard road,” said Rogers, who noted that Lake Cumberland Regional Airport was the 436th such facility in the nation to achieve TSA (Transportation Security Administration) security clearance. “I’m so proud of this facility, and proud for our region, that people can commercially fly in and out of our region for the first time ever.”

One of those aboard the flight was David Clayton, a local man who works at Lookout Marine. The flight was an especially unique one for Clayton — he hadn’t been on an airplane since 1975.

“I preferred taking the train when I lived in Cincinnati,” said Clayton. “This is really neat. I’m really glad to see the airport here. It gives us another way to get away from here other than car.

“I figured that as a citizen, I need to support this, so I bought a ticket as soon as the reservation system went out,” he added.

Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler found himself pondering the wonder of it all while driving down U.S. 27 to the airport that morning.

“(I thought) it’s an exciting time to be driving to the airport to catch a plane,” said Girdler, whose efforts on behalf of the city were key in bringing Air Azul to Somerset. “We plan to take some trips in the next couple months and it’s an ideal time to come to the Lake Cumberland Regional Airport — it’s so convenient.”

Likewise, Trevor Sadler, one of the founders of Air Azul noted that it was a momentous occasion, with things going smoothly on the first day.

“We’re very excited to be here today, for the first flight for the Somerset Community, and for Air Azul, our first scheduled flight together,” he said.

Clayton, Girdler, Sadler and Rogers, along with his wife Cynthia, were among the inaugural passengers filling the plane that seats nine. Others taking the flight included Judge-Executive Barty Bullock, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jack Keeney, and Rob Barber of R.A. Wiedemann & Associates, the aviation-based planning and marketing firm helping bring air service to Somerset a reality.

The group boarded the plane, which maneuvered onto the runway, sped up, and rose quickly into the grayish December morning sky. They flew to Nashville, where some stayed and others turned back around to fly to Somerset — the flight only took 45 minutes.

“I was impressed with how stable aircraft is,” said Barber. “It was very windy today, a lot of crosswinds, but there was very, very mild turbulence — it wasn’t noticeable like you would think on a smaller aircraft. It was really nice.

“I have been working in aviation for 24 years and have been on probably 200 or 300 different types crafts of aircraft in that time,” he added. “I’ve never ridden a Metro III, (but I was) very impressed with how smooth ride was. It was very pleasant.”

Flights can be booked by visiting www.lakecumberlandairport.com or www.airazul.com, or by calling 1-888-554-AZUL. Big advantages for the new air service in Somerset include pricing and convenience. The flights go in and out of an airport hub in Nashville, from which travelers can continue on a connection to any destination they seek.

One-way fares to Nashville will be $59; however, enter a special promotional code at the Air Azul Web site — the word “Somerset” — and you’ll get $10 off per passenger, per leg of the trip to and from the Nashville Metropolitan Airport. The promotion will likely last until next spring, if not longer.

Scheduled Air Azul flights run on Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday dates as of right now, and limited service will continue until next spring, when those behind this project are hoping larger awareness of the service availability will allow for an expanded schedule of flights.

“Hopefully, our community will support it and we’ll do everything possible to make this a great success,” said Girdler.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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