Five airports in North Central Arkansas are among 354 in 44 states who will share in $986 million in infrastructure grants, according to an announcement last week by the Federal Aviation Administration. This is the fifth allotment of the total $3.18 billion in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for airports across the United States.
Selected projects include runway reconstruction and rehabilitation, construction of firefighting facilities, noise mitigation, emissions reduction and the maintenance of taxiways, aprons and terminals. The construction and equipment supported by this funding increase the airports’ safety, emergency response capabilities, and capacity, and could support further economic growth and development within each airport’s region.
In Arkansas, 52 grants were awarded to rural and community airports in every region of the state.
The largest local award of almost $463,000 went to the Boone County Airport for rehabilitation of the apron and taxiway.
The second largest local award of over $177,000 went to Melbourne Municipal-John E. Miller Field to updated the airport’s master plan study.
The remaining three awards of approximately $150,000 each went to the Baxter County, Calico Rock-Izard County and Searcy County airports.
The funds in Baxter County are earmarked for runway rehabilitation, while the awards at Calico-Rock-Izard County and Searcy County will be used to rehabilitate aprons, runways and taxiways.
The FAA says airport infrastructure in the United States, with 3,332 airports and 5,000 paved runways, supports economic competitiveness and improves quality of life.
According to the FAA’s most recent economic analysis, U.S. civil aviation accounts for $1.6 trillion in total economic activity and supports nearly 11 million jobs.
Airports can receive a certain amount of AIP entitlement funding each year based on activity levels and project needs. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI