Grant by the Federal Aviation Authority is announced to develop airports nationwide

BIG BUSINESS: The U.S. has 3,323 airports, most of any country in the world

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be investing $659.8 million into airport infrastructure as part of $3.18 billion in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant for the development of airports across the States, it has been announced. 

Secretary of State for Transportation Elaine L. Chao has said there will be 450 grants which will fund 664 infrastructure projects including runways, taxiways, aprons, terminals, aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, and snow removal equipment.

Secretary Chao said: “Our airports are essential in supporting $1.6 trillion in total economic activity and nearly 11 million jobs; these federal grants will help our airports to maintain safety and improve efficiency for freight and passengers,” 

The U.S. has over 3,000 airports and about 5,000 runways; it is hoped that this investment will improve the ease of travel for passengers. It is estimated that U.S. civil aviation accounts for $1.6 trillion in total economic activity and supports nearly 11 million jobs.

AIP investment is calculated each year based on the needs of individual airports. 

The grant investment projects have been awarded to the following airports: 

• University of Illinois–Willard Airport in Champaign/Urbana, IL, $3 million –funds will be used to repair the airport taxiways A5 and A6.
• Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, KS, $5.6 million – the airport will use grant funds to repair Runway 18/36.
• Lafayette Regional Airport in Lafayette, LA, $11.8 million – the grant will fund the second phase of a five-phase terminal project.
• Lake Charles Regional Airport in Lake Charles, LA, $3.9 million – the airport will use the grant to improve the runway drainage system and to mitigate wildlife hazards.
• Duluth International Airport in Duluth, MN, $8.6 million – the grant will fund the repair of the pavement for Runway 9/27.
• Grand Rapids/Itasca County Airport in Grand Rapids, MN $1.1 million – the grant will fund the repair of the general aviation apron.
• Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis, MN, $5.8 million –the airport will use the grant to replace existing Taxiway S pavement and install runway lighting and sensors.
• St. Louis Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, MO, $10.2 million – funds will help with repairing Runway 12L/30R and the associated lighting system for the runway. 
• Hillsboro Municipal Airport in Hillsboro, ND, $1.6 million – the airport will use grant funds to repair the taxiway and expand the general aviation apron where the aircraft park.
• Sloulin Field International Airport in Williston, ND, $14.2 million – grant funds will help with the fifth phase of a project to construct a new airport. 
• Laredo International Airport in Laredo, TX, $3.6 million – the airport will use the funds to repair the apron.
• Robert Gray Army Airfield in Killeen, TX, $6.2 million – funds will be used to replace four passenger-boarding bridges at the terminal building.
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, VA, $11.5 million – grant funds will be used to construct a deicing pad for aircraft and repair an apron.
• Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, VA, $6.1 million – the airport will use the funds to repair Taxiway B.