U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced last month that the Elmira Corning Regional Airport in Chemung County, N.Y., will receive $2,784,633 in U.S. Department of Transportation funds. These federal funds will be used to relocate and replace the airfield’s existing electrical vault. The current vault has reached its expiration date, making the need for a new one especially acute. Replacing the vault will also ensure that the electrical operations of the Elmira Corning Regional Airport are running efficiently and safely. The vault’s relocation is necessary for future airport development.
“Keeping our airports in top-notch shape is critical to attracting business and tourism to the region,” said Senator Schumer. “With this funding, the Elmira Corning Airport will be able to make structural upgrades to its electrical operations, paving the way for future development initiatives. These federal dollars will go a long way toward helping Chemung County make much-needed upgrades and start initiatives that will help ensure sure they continue to be a regional leaders of economic development for years to come.”
“The Federal Aviation Administration funding will replace and relocate the electrical switch gear as well as regulators for airfield lighting,” said Bill DeGraw, director of operations for the Elmira Corning Regional Airport. “The current electrical vault was built in the 1970s and has reached the end of its useful life. This important funding will benefit the airport and its passengers by meeting newer electrical standards.”
The Airport Improvement Program, through the Federal Aviation Administration, provides grants to public agencies — and, in some cases, to private owners and entities — for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The NPIAS, which is prepared and published every 2 years, identifies public-use airports that are important to public transportation and contribute to the needs of civil aviation, national defense, and the Postal service.
The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) was established by the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982. Since then, the AIP has been amended several times, most recently with the passage of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Funds obligated for the AIP are drawn from the Airport and Airway Trust fund, which is supported by user fees, fuel taxes, and other similar revenue sources.
