Thu, Jun 24, 2004
Idea: Boost Capacity By Upgrading Military Airports For Joint
Use
The FAA Wednesday
selected five airports to participate in the Military Airport
Program (MAP) intended to boost aviation capacity through funding
to upgrade military airports for civil or joint use.
The airports are Griffiss Airpark, Rome (NY); Millington
Municipal Airport, Millington (TN); Sawyer Airport, Gwinn (MI);
Okalossa County Airport, Valparaiso (FL); and Alexandria
International Airport (LA).
"This program adds capacity in key locations and is an
inexpensive way to reduce flight delays," said FAA Administrator
Marion C. Blakey.
Using federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds, the MAP
provides financial assistance for up to five years to the civilian
sponsor of military airfields.
Additional information on the MAP selections:
- Griffiss Airpark, a general aviation airport and the former
Griffiss Air Force Base, will receive funds for four years to bring
runway lighting into compliance with FAA standards, construct
security fencing around the airport, and build a terminal
building.
- As a reliever airport for Memphis International, Millington
Municipal will receive funds for two years to construct T-hangars
and for other hangar renovation.
- Sawyer Airport will use its three-year funding for extensive
hangar renovation. The former Air Force Base is the commercial
service airport for Marquette (MI).
- For four years, the MAP
will assist Okaloosa County Airport and Eglin Air Force Base, a
joint-use facility, to conduct terminal expansion, utility work on
the electrical and water systems, and to construct a cargo building
and a fuel farm. This is the commercial service airport for
Valparaiso (FL).
- The Alexandria International Airport will use its two-year
funding to build a large hangar to accommodate the repair of jet
aircraft. Alexandria, formerly England Air Force Base, is the
commercial service airport in the city.
This fiscal year, the FAA will provide airport sponsors $35
million in MAP funds. Since 1990, the FAA has assisted airport
sponsors with funding for a variety projects such as building or
rehabilitating surface parking lots, fuel farms, hangars, utility
systems, access roads and cargo buildings. Many of these projects
are not normally eligible for AIP funding, but projects for
MAP-designated airports have unique eligibility rules in order to
convert the airports to civilian use.
Airports already participating in the program include: Guam
International Airport; Mid America Airport, Belleville (IL);
Plattsburgh International Airport (NY); Cecil Field, Jacksonville
(FL); Tipton Airport, Odenton (MD); Mather Airport, Sacramento
(CA); March Inland Port, Riverside (CA); Gray Army Airfield in
Killeen (TX); Kalaeloa Airport, Oahu (HI); and Southern California
Logistics Airport, Victorville (CA).
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