Small airports get federal funding

U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman, along with Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1) and Tom Cotton (AR-4) recently announced that six Arkansas rural airports will receive over $1.2 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants.

“With $2.5 billion of economic activity and 29,000 jobs depending on this industry, it’s critical that we invest in our airports,” Pryor said. “These grants are a common-sense way we can bring new jobs and business opportunities to our state.”

“Improving the airports in these six communities helps provide long term growth and development,” Boozman said. “These funds are a great investment and will help create economic opportunities throughout Arkansas.”

“As a Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I know these rural airports play a key role in supporting rural communities and their economies. These grants will allow our airports to make investments in capital and maintenance that will help keep rural Arkansas competitive and continue bringing jobs to our state,” said Crawford.

"Today's announcement means our rural aviation infrastructure will receive upgrades that will allow for the continued, safe operation of several local Arkansas airports. As I stated earlier this year in my fight against this administration's FAA sequester scare tactics, local airports serve an important function in our state and I will continue to advocate on their behalf,” said Cotton.

The airports receiving funding are as follows:

Carlisle: The Carlisle Municipal Airport will receive $174,330 to rehabilitate the runway. The rehabilitation is needed to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.

Clarendon: The Clarendon Municipal Airport will receive $213,712 to construct a new runway and parallel taxiway. Funds will also be used to pave and light the parallel taxiway.

Corning: The Corning Municipal Airport will receive $153,923 to rehabilitate the taxiway.

Danville: The Danville Municipal Airport will receive $331,143 to install a wildlife perimeter fence and secure the airport’s northern property boundary. Funding will also be used to acquire land for future airport development and remove a hangar in the taxiway safety area.

Marked Tree: The Marked Tree Municipal Airport will receive $171,000 to purchase a runway vertical/visual guidance system. Funds will also be used to install Precision Approach Path Indicators at the end of each runway and a lighted windcone to assist operators during takeoffs and landings.

Mount Ida: The Bearce Airport will receive $192,033 to install a wildlife perimeter fence, purchase a new runway vertical/visual guidance system, and replace the existing Precision Approach Path Indicators.