The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $371 million for airfield, safety and other improvement projects at 169 airports in 40 states across the country. This is the third announcement of awards for the 2022 Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which funds a variety of projects such as construction of new and improved airport facilities, repairs to runways and taxiways, maintenance of airfield elements like lighting or signage, and the purchase of equipment needed to operate and maintain airports.
“Airports play a tremendous role in local economies across the country, large and small, and as we emerge from the pandemic there is enormous demand for air travel,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These grants will help modernize our airports to help get people where they need to go and support the economic life of our nation.”
“Collectively, the $371 million investment helps airports across the nation sustain and improve critical infrastructure to advance the safest, most efficient airport system in the world,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E.
Examples of grants include:
Chefornak Airport (Chefornak, AK): $31.2 million to rehabilitate the runway and taxiway, improve runway and other airfield lighting, and install various navigation aids to assist aircraft safety at this rural airport.
Lea County Regional Airport (Hobbs, NM): $7.1 million for a runway extension and Runway Safety Area improvements. This project provides expanded aviation access by extending Runway 3/21 to 8,000 feet to meet the growing needs of the community.
Onida Municipal Airport (Onida, SD): $3.2 million to reconstruct a runway and construct a new taxiway. This project will replace failing runway pavement and improve safety by adding a new taxiway to serve the aviation needs of this rural community.
Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (Muscle Shoals, AL): $3 million to replace the airport’s runway lighting and improve the safety area of Runway 12/30.
Pittsburgh International Airport (Pittsburgh, PA): $2.9 million to purchase seven pre-conditioned air units to provide temperature control of aircraft at gates. This project will reduce sources of airport ground emissions, improve airport air quality, and reduce the use of conventional fuels.
Greensburg Municipal Airport (Greensburg, IN): $2.5 million to build a new 5,405-foot long Runway 1/19. The runway’s new orientation and length will allow the airport to accommodate existing and future aircraft.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (Raleigh, NC): $1.3 million to purchase two zero-emissions passenger shuttle buses. By reducing conventional fuels, this project will improve local air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The FAA has awarded a total of $1.53 billion of the $3.2 billion total funding available in Fiscal Year 2022. A complete listing of grants is on FAA.gov.
