The Airport in Benton, Pennsylvania

Last updated Monday, March 2, 2009, 9:46 AM

Those who have never flown a small airplane over the airspace of the upper Fishingcreek valley are missing a wonderful experience. If you haven't flown into the publicly-owned and privately-operated airport in Benton, imagine when you are in the lobby of the Northern Columbia Community & Cultural Center that you are flying north.  The panorama painted by Diane Derr on the north-facing wall of the lobby represents what it would look like flying over Orangeville with the North Mountains in the distance and the various communities of the upper Fishingcreek valley spread out in front of you.

 

Dick and Jo Ann Karschner have flown into the Benton airport and flown over the Upper Fishingcreek area for 40 years and "never tire of the scenery of all four seasons."  They sometimes get into their plane and fly to Benton to attend the Benton rodeo, the bluegrass festival, the Benton carnival--or simply to take a short walk into town to enjoy great food at any of the five restaurants.   

 

In October 1945, the State Aeronautics Commission approved the site on the Harold David "Davie" Yost farm for a proposed airfield at Benton, to be operated by a flying club of thirty or more members. The farm was formerly owned by Earl Laubach, a teacher in the Benton school, then sold to George Yost. When Mr. Yost passed away, the farm was left to his son Davie Yost, although it remained tenant-operated during his years of ownership.

 

The permit for the flying club was given in the name of Doyle Sutliff, one of the organizers of the flying movement in the Benton area, and the only member to own his own plane. Doyle owned a Piper Cup Coupe which he kept at the Danville Airport and later brought to Benton. Doyle's son, Bruce, was also a pilot--with American Airlines.

The Benton Flying Club was governed by bylaws. It was incorporated May 8, 1946. The corporation was formed for "promoting social enjoyments among the members," for "maintenance of facilities for air navigation and other innocent or athletic sports, for the encouragement, fostering, promotion and protection of air navigation and trade and commerce by air navigation." The corporation's charter called for "purchasing, acquiring and holding of real estate for the establishment and maintenance of a club house, buildings, airports, landing fields and air-navigation facilities in accordance with appropriate regulatory authorities of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

There were 35 original members, plus over the years additional members were voted into membership. The club had eight directors in 1946. The memberships had a par value of $200.  Here are the names of early members: Buddy Hartman, Fred Houseweart, Robert Brewington, Willis Dietrick, Ross Harrison, A. Ross Pennington, Edgar Baker, Helen Baker, Frank Beishline, Gerald Baker, Nola Baker, John Dockey, Harold Hartman, T. Bruce Driver, Lloyd Knouse, Elizabeth Knouse, Karl Fritz, Ivan Chapin, John Ftorkowski, Carlton Fritz, Leland Hess, Clifton Buck, Leo Sharek, Andrew Hasay, Beatrice Driver, W. Bruce Sutliff, Kermit J. Shultz, Maynard H. Robbins, Francis Reed, Eleanor Grisco, Ernest Carson, Robert Vincent, Jr., Mrs. Guy Beishline, Jacob Knouse, Clifford Sutliff, Joseph Dalto, Mrs. Doyle Sutliff, Donald Smith, Fred Stair, J. Paul Laubach, Neil S. Harrison, Kenneth Burrows and John Laubach (Berwick).

Robert Vincent and Robert Brown were the first to make solo flights under the G.I. Bill training program at the Danville Airport, and quickly many more from the local area became interesting in flying.

When the flying club disbanded, the borough purchased the land and continued the use of the land as an airport. The transfer took place on January 9, 1975, between the Benton Flying Club and the Borough of Benton at an agreed-upon price of $35,000. The land that was conveyed consisted of one parcel of 31.41 acres and a second parcel of 12.6 acres. The agreement was that the Borough had to continue the use of the property as an airport for ten years.

Robert T. (Bobby T. or simply "T") Vincent, Jr., was manager of the Benton airport until the time of his death on June 28, 2008, and he remains listed on official FAA records as manager of record. Information listed with the FAA shows Benton as having a "private airport," meaning that all pilots must obtain permission from the airport manager before landing at the airfield. Dick Karschner notes that he usually will not call to ask permission to fly into a private airport where he has not landed before, although admits that on the few occasions where he has called he has been greeted with a friendly reception. Dick's point is that pilots tend to avoid private airports. 

The Borough needs to name a new manager of the airport and make other fundamental decisions regarding the future of the landing strip.

 

The Borough has wrestled with the fate of the airport since at least the July 2008 borough council meeting. Dan Keeney, Monty Hittle and Mike Evans addressed the borough council at that time regarding the future of the Benton airport. At that meeting, Monty stated he has been doing most of the grass mowing and maintenance during the illness of Bobby T. and asked to be named as airport manager. The interested parties were asked to submit an official request. Council responded that they would appoint an ad hoc committee to research the airport lease, investigate the issue, and meet to discuss future plans for the airport. The issue remains unresolved.

The southern boundary of the airport is near the home of Dan and Mary Hartman, Market Street. The northern boundary of the 2,200 ft. runway is Mendenhall Lane, a road half in Benton Township and half in Benton Borough. The airport was a public airport from 1946 until about 1990. The airport runway met required specifications at that time, but the public designation was given up based on cost and liability considerations (insurance for a private airport is cheaper than for a public airport). The runway today is 50' wider than the 100' required for a public airport.

 

The Benton airport is turf, but is maintained for year-round use. There are currently five aircraft based at the airport. Aviation fuel is available on request from private sources and aircraft repairs are performed on an as-needed basis by qualified aircraft mechanics.  The airport has a large parking area for transient aircraft and several tie downs for overnight stays.

Benton airport conforms to Federal Aviation Administration and PA Department of Transportation standards and is inspected on a regular basis. This airport has been continuously operating since 1947 and does not require any public financing for day-to-day operations. It is maintained through volunteer efforts by pilots located in the area and through support of persons interested in the continued viability of the airport.
 
Aviation enthusiasts enjoy the local airfield located at Lat. N4112.0 and Long. W07623.2, at an elevation of 780 feet. The Benton Area has many attractive recreation opportunities. For starters, the scenery in this part of the Commonwealth is breath-taking in the fall of the year, as evidenced by the following photo taken by Dick Karschner.

The runway offers a safe haven, free of wires and other obstructions for life-flight helicopter rescues. It serves as a temporary base of operations for crop dusting. The airport has been used for youth education programs to encourage interest in aviation and science. It is listed in FAA charts used by pilots and is found on the internet and other aviation guides, www.fltplan.com/AirportInformation/PA40.htm, used for navigation. Benton is used by instructors from other airports to familiarize students with the challenges and benefits of a turf runway.

A typical landing at the Benton Airport. The runway is almost straight ahead and is to the left of the residential areas of Benton. Restaurants and the antique shops for which Benton is known are a short, pleasant walk from the airport. The view of this picture, which is courtesy of Dick Karschner, is looking north.

The time has come to make a decision on the future of the airport. Here are some points to consider if Benton is to remain a place to visit for pilots.  
   •  Maintenance must be kept up so that the runway is a reliable landing zone for life flight and other helicopter operations in the area.

   • The airport provides a buffer zone between the residential areas of the borough and the rodeo grounds. Music generated during the annual O.A.T.S. bluegrass festival and the Benton carnival is greatly mitigated by the time it reaches residences.  Pedestrian traffic should be cautioned about the active runway, but not be restricted during special events in order that the thousands of people who attend the O.A.T.S. festival--this year July 2-5--can visit the stores and restaurants of Benton.

   • Consideration should be given to increasing the number of hangers in order to base additional aircraft and increase revenue. There is currently a waiting list for hangers at every airport in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

   • Free advertising for local businesses should be made available on various aviation sites. The mention of restaurants is usually enough reason for pilots to fly in.

   • An airport presence will serve as a visible example to young people as to what they can become through study and hard work. Careers in aviation are still in demand and will be for the foreseeable future.

The owner and operator of Skyhaven Airport, a small public airport south of Tunkhannock, recently provided background on an airport similar to the one in Benton. Charlie Gay owns the airport (privately owned) as a public-use facility. It is similar in size to the Benton airport. His family has operated the airport since 1945. The airport is self-sufficient with all income coming from local aviation.

Charlie heard that the Benton airport was in danger of closing, as it has in other locations across the country. Charlie voluntarily flew to the Benton airport last week to meet with Jan Jankowski, a member of the Benton Borough Council, and other aviators to share his knowledge of airports. He discussed the closing of airports in small towns and the resultant impact on the community.

It was evident from the meeting at the airport that in order for the Benton airport to be profitable, it needs to become a public-use airport The airport is unique because it is located within easy walking distance to residences and businesses, rodeo grounds and Fishingcreek. The existing grass runway is adequate for smaller single-engine airplanes. The market would be recreational pilots who would use the airport for access to local businesses, training, overnight camping, access for fishing. visiting the rodeo, bluegrass festival, upcoming Fishing Confederacy celebration and special events. There are local business owners and residents who base airplanes at the Benton airport--the strongest supporters for keeping the airport open. The airport has been publicly owned for many years, has never been expensive for the town and should remain that way. The airport can be self sufficient, but will need some changes in its operation and management.

We now come to the part of the story where the airport needs a manager who has an interest in aviation and can oversee the operation of the airport. Monty Hittle, a local rural-mail carrier with a long history of dedication to the airport, offered to operate the airport for free to help it remain open. This is an opportunity for the town to see if keeping an airport is feasible. To do this, the borough council should consider doing the following:
   • Appoint an airport manager who has the time and organizational skills to operate the airport with an eye to transition it to a self-sufficient public operation. Monty Hittle has the requisite ability to perform that job.
   • The manager needs to have a lease of a minimum of five years to proceed with the changes and to establish realistic income and expense figures. It will take time to bring activity to the appropriate level. Any equipment supplied by the manager to assist with airport operation during the trial period would remain under his ownership.
   • All accounting of airport activities, bills, profits and loss should be made available to the borough council at the end of each fiscal year.
   • The Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation should be consulted in order to return the airport to public status. This would require FAA approval and a site inspection by the PA Bureau of Aviation. As long as there are no grants involved, the borough would not obligated to keep the airport open beyond the trial-lease period.
   • Establish insurance cost for the airport as it exists currently and after returning to public-use status. Public-use insurance is more costly than private-use insurance.
   • Allow the airport manager to repair and use the old flying-club building as shelter for visiting pilots and passengers.
   • Rent a port-a-pot for a rest-room facility
   • Determine the existing equipment for mowing and snow removal.
   • Post signs showing businesses in town, phone numbers and a map.
   • Hanger rentals need to pay access fees to runway. Fees should be set by the airport manager.
   • Fuel supply is now privately owned. Conversion of this system to credit card 24 hour access is needed. A possible fee for airport access may be determined by the airport manager. Private owners would remain able to sell fuel publicly.
   • The bureau of aviation would determine if any hazards exist to license the airport. (trees, poles, brush) These should he removed, if possible.
 
To assist the airport manager financially and help maintain the airport, Charles Gay suggested a Benton Pilots Association (BPA) be formed as a non-profit volunteer group to hold fund-raising activities, such as a fly-in breakfast, to help improve and operate the airport. The money this association generates would pay for airport operations, maintenance and upgrades to keep the airport self-sufficient. Mr. Gay committed Skyhaven Pilots Association to give the Benton pilots access to their grills, tables, chairs, etc. Any airport equipment (mowers, plows) purchased by the pilots association should be donated to the airport. Fund-raising equipment remains property of the association. All airport improvements such as building improvements, windsock, lighting, wiring etc will be considered part of the airport property.

As the leasing of natural gas becomes a reality again in the upper Fishingcreek valley, the airport property should be considered for leasing. Signing bonus and royalty payments on the airport property could be retained for the betterment of the airport and the use of the borough. The exact percentage of the split should be negotiated between the airport manager and the town government at the time of lease signing. A separate account should be established for airport improvements. The airport needs specific language written into gas leases to prevent drilling that would affect airport operations.

The airport has a grass runway. Pilots are aware that the surface of the runway changes depending on weather conditions. The FAA has an established an information service which the airport manager can contact to temporarily close the airport until conditions improve. It also makes sense that sometimes snow plowing can do damage to the grass surface and the snow will be left until conditions are favorable to plow.

The small, single-engine airplanes which will use the airport are generally not louder than normal auto traffic and only operate during daylight hours. The Cessna airplane owned by Monty Hittle is a typical training airplane and was operated in a flight training role at the Benton airport by Bob Vincent. This type of airplane is what will be operating the most from Benton if it is a public airport. Noise levels should not increase beyond the amount heard in previous years. The other larger airplanes based at Benton arc louder but do not fly frequently and depart the area after takeoff. They are not doing repeated takeoff and landings.

Travel time using a typical four seat Cessna 172, assuming normal cruising airspeed of 120 mph, is one hour to Newark, Trenton and Philadelphia. Add another 15 minutes to fly to Syracuse or Baltimore. It would take an hour and 45 minutes to fly to Erie or Pittsburgh and two hours to the eastern tip of Long Island, Toronto or Groton.
 
There is a significant time savings traveling by small airplane. Pilots will plan trips based on the availability of airports near their planned destination. If there is a reason to come to the Benton area and the airport is open for public use, they will land there. If there is no airport, they will plan to go to another town with an airport and spend money for food and supplies in that location.

The airport in Benton is an asset in the rough, another reason why Benton is set apart from other similar size towns in Pennsylvania.

If the airport can be made self sufficient during the current economic conditions, it should be preserved for future use. If the airport is closed, there is little chance of another being built and Benton will lose an opportunity to connect with a larger market of visitors and business customers.  

Charlie Gay, 570 836-4800, will answer questions and offer suggestions on airport operation, finances, licensing and management. Interested persons are invited to visit Skyhaven Airport for a tour of their operation. The airport is open seven days a week during daylight hours. The Tunkhannock airport users include model-airplane builders, skydivers, dog walkers, ambulance drills, wildlife survey and spray operations. The airport has been used as a staging area for military helicopters in response to local natural disasters, Life flight uses the airport to pick up accident victims and a bluegrass band meets once a week to play.

Pier Holcombe, a former Bentonian, supports "maintaining and growing the airport." The airport launched Pier into "his aerospace career."  

Major Tom Yeager took the time out to write to borough council on the importance of keeping the airport open. He said, in part, "A staple to the community that has over 60 years of history needs to find members to revive this facility and keep it alive! " Major Yeager will soon be a Benton-area resident and as an Air Force fighter pilot, he looks forward to becoming an active member at the Benton Airport.

 

Nineteen years ago, he was inspired to fly at a small airport in Schuylkill County which ultimately launched his career as an Air Force fighter pilot. Major Yeager would like to "inspire young men and women in the community to share the joys of flying as I have which would begin at the Benton Airport!"

 

Sixty-five years ago Bruce Crawford dropped letters to his family over Benton on the way to Europe in a B-17 Bombardier and was one of the very few to survive 25 missions. We owe it to men like him to keep aviation alive in Benton!
--Thanks for major contributions to this article from Beatrice Lanni, Monte Hittle, Richard and JoAnn Karschner, virtually every pilot who has ever flown in or out of the local airport, Charlie Gay, and to the member of the Benton borough council who have gone through endless questions from me to them.