Airports Coast To Coast Receive Good News About Funding

Airports from Florida to California received good news about FAA AIP grants at the end of the week, with the monies committed totaling $59.6 million.

Topping the list was Van Nuys, CA, which will receive a grant of $18.4 million to reconstruct and repave the primary runway at Van Nuys Airport (pictured). “This funding will help improve Van Nuys Airport’s infrastructure and will keep aircraft moving safely and efficiently through the airport,” said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. “Investing in our nation’s airports promotes economic growth.”

The FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant will pay for rehabilitating the entire 8,000-foot-long primary runway. Construction is expected to begin in early 2013 and take nine months to complete. Van Nuys had about 300,000 takeoffs and landings in 2011.

Checking in with a $10 million grant is Fort Worth Alliance Airport, which will spend the money as part of a multi-year runway extension project. The AIP grant will pay for continued work to extend each of Alliance’s two runways to 11,000 feet. The project has been underway for several years and involves extensive work to relocate a nearby state highway and a railroad to make way for the longer runways. The entire project is expected to be complete in 2016.

In Orlando, FL, a $9.6 million dollar grant will be used to rehabilitate the runway and taxiway, and to purchase an aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle for Orlando International Airport. The Runway 18R/36L rehabilitation project will extend the useful life of the pavement and provide for realignment and rehabilitation of Taxiway A, which is needed to meet FAA design standards and to extend the useful life of the pavement. The new aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle will replace the current vehicle which is too expensive to maintain.

A little further south in Florida, Venice Municipal Airport will receive $7.1 million for runway repairs, runway safety area upgrades and taxiway construction. The grant will allow the airport to reconstruct Runway 4/22 and allow for improvement of the runway safety area to meet FAA standards. The taxiway project will provide the recommended separation between the runway and taxiway.

In Oregon, a $6.9 million AIP grant has been awarded for runway and taxiway improvements at Portland-Hillsboro Airport. The grant will fund the replacement of the 20 year-old pavement on Runway 2/20, which is nearing the end of its useful life and requires frequent maintenance to repair cracks. The project also will include moving a runway threshold to provide pilots with better views of an intersecting runway. Taxiway C that runs parallel to the runway will also be reconstructed and moved further from the runway to enhance safety.

“Portland Hillsboro Airport is vital for business aviation in the Portland metropolitan area,” Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said. “It provides air taxi and corporate aircraft services to a number of companies in the region and is also an important base for airplane and helicopter flight instruction.”

Portland Hillsboro Airport is the second busiest airport in Oregon with more than 214,000 takeoffs and landings in 2011. Runway 2/20 runs perpendicular to the airport’s primary runway and allows aircraft to land and take off when wind conditions prevent them from using the primary runway. The runway and taxiway work is expected to begin in mid-2013 and end in the fall.

In the midwest, James M. Cox Dayton International Airport in Ohio will recieve a $4.8 million AIP grant to expand the apron area around the terminal. Completion of the project will ensure a clear line of sight between the control tower and the aircraft movement area near the terminal. The FAA AIP grant will fund the removal of the Concourse D building, along with rehabilitating and expanding the apron area around the terminal. Demolition of the Concourse D building is scheduled to begin this year and the entire project is scheduled to be completed by late 2013.

And last, but not least, in Indianapolis, IN, a $3.2 million grant will pay for for the construction of a de-icing containment facility at Indianapolis International Airport. The grant will help pay for the upgrade and expansion of the storm water/de-icing system at Indianapolis International Airport. The existing storm water system is operating at full capacity. This project will replace the linings of both systems and allow for better efficiency on the field.

FMI: www.faa.gov