The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently awarded $371 million to 169 airports in 40 states through the 2022 Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
This is the third round of AIP awards. The program funds repairs to runways and taxiways, the purchase of equipment needed to operate and maintain airports, the construction of new and improved airport facilities, maintenance of airfield elements like lighting or signage, and other projects.
“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,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “These grants will help modernize our airports to help get people where they need to go and support the economic life of our nation.”
Some of the grant recipients include:
Chefornak Airport in Chefornak, Alaska, was awarded $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 in Hobbs, N.M., received $7.1 million for a runway extension and Runway Safety Area improvements.
Onida Municipal Airport in Onida, S.D., received $3.2 million to reconstruct a runway and construct a new taxiway.
The FAA has awarded $1.53 billion of the $3.2 billion available for 2022.