Aug. 1—bluefield — Federal funding which will help Mercer County's airport pay for an expensive survey which must be conducted every 10 years was among eight Federal Aviation Administration grants announced Wednesday for West Virginia's airports.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, I-WV, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Wednesday that $7,249,095 was being awarded from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration or FAA. The funding will support improvements at eight airports across West Virginia and is made possible by the FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
"I'm pleased the DOT is investing more than $7.2 million to improve service, safety and efficiency at eight of our West Virginia airports," said Manchin. " West Virginia's airports are crucial gateways to the rest of the world, and the funding announced today will support local tourism as well as spur economic and commercial development across our entire state. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to support transportation hubs across the Mountain State."
The Mercer County Airport near Bluefield was awarded $126,288. This grant will support an aeronautical survey for an area navigation instrument approach for Runway 23.
"They're talking about giving us some money for this aerial survey," said Airport Manager Jim Pilkins. "We have to have it done every 10 years and it's about $177,000 to have it done, and this grant that we've received, it will help a lot. We have to come up with 10% of that, the airport's part of it, but this will come at really the right time. We've got a few more projects going on, but they come at different times."
During the survey, which can take several months, the approaches to the airport's runways are checked during different seasons of the year.
"They've got to come and fly in with the leaves one, the leaves off, both ways," Pilkins said.
Pilkins said the Mercer County Airport, which is for general aviation and does not offer commercial service, sees plenty of activity. For instance, musicians and other performers coming to the Chuck Mathena Center in Princeton sometimes arrive at the airport. Visitors coming to ride the Hatfield-McCoy Trail also land their airplanes at the airport and keep their off-road vehicles in the county.
"It's a challenge for us to keep afloat, but it's a great facility and we're pleased to have it here," said Mercer County Commission President Bill Archer, who also serves on the airport's board of directors.
"We've been through quite a few years trying to get what we want done," Pilkins said. "The commission is really helping us pretty good."
Other FAA grant awards included : — $6,507,704 — Greenbrier Valley Regional Airport, Lewisburg. This funding will support rehabilitating 7,000 feet of Runway 4/22 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris. — $134,940 — West Virginia International Yeager Airport, Charleston. This funding will be used to construct a new 1,200 foot retaining wall to stabilize the apron embankment to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.
Contact Greg Jordan at
Contact Greg Jordan at [email protected]
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