PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County Airport Authority’s annual auction returns live on Oct. 23, with two years’ worth of personal items left behind to bid on.
Nearly 1,000 pieces of jewelry will be auctioned – including silver and gold pieces – along with more than 500 electronic items, nine abandoned vehicles, runway brooms, plows, and a fire truck. Other unclaimed items left behind that are on the auction list: an elf on the shelf, a lava lamp, portable toilet seat, rice cooker and a pair of high-end designer dress shoes.
“We are excited to be returning to an in-person event,” said Dawn Bailey, ACAA manager of landside and terminal operations. “We have two years’ worth of left behind items for the public due to a scaled-down online-only event last year.”
The auction, located at the Heavy Equipment Building on Cargo Road, will start at 10 a.m. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. There will be a 15 percent buyer’s premium with five percent waived for cash or check purchase. Cash, check, and credit cards will be accepted. In addition to the live bids, items can be bid via auctioneer Joe R. Pyle’s website.
Vehicles will need to be towed from the auction site unless purchased by a dealer with appropriate plates. Registration will be conducted at the auction. All items purchased must be removed within seven days.
To ensure the health and safety of all those at the auction, masks will be required as well as social distancing. Two food trucks, Divine Swine and Steel City Fries, will be serving breakfast and lunch food.
Proceeds from items sold that are not owned by the Airport Authority go to the ACAA Charitable Foundation, which helps support the airport’s military lounge, Art in the Airport program, aviation scholarships and workforce development.
Prior to the auction, the Airport Authority donated several boxes of items left longer than 30 days in the airport’s Lost and Found to local charities. Dozens of boxes of clothing were donated to Circles of Greater Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that assists individuals living in poverty. Additionally, boxes of unclaimed prescription eyeglasses were donated to the Pittsburgh chapter of the Lions Club.
Note: Items will not be available for media view until Oct. 19.
Directions to Auction: Follow Business Loop I-376 to Hangar Road; turn left at the traffic light toward Airport Maintenance Facilities; at next intersection turn left on to Cargo Road and follow to top of hill. Airport Authority employees will direct attendees to parking location.
About Allegheny County Airport Authority:
Allegheny County Airport Authority, which manages Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and Allegheny County Airport (AGC), is committed to transforming Pittsburgh’s airports to reflect and serve the community, inspire the industry, and advance the region’s role as a world leader. PIT was named by Fast Company magazine as One of the Most Innovative Companies in the World as well as a finalist in its World Changing Ideas awards, both in 2020. The airport’s Safe Travels initiative commits to the highest in public health and safety standards in the airport industry. The initiative, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, outlines best practices for keeping travelers healthy. For more information, visit www.flypittsburgh.com.