GA Airport question

[Steve]

I've heard from some folks over the years that privately owned general aviation airports recieve money from the government to help support them. Does anyone have any more details about this? What it takes to recieve the funding? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Steve

 

[sky37d]

Any Airport can receive federal funding.
However, the funding does impose some limitations, which is why Meigs didn't receive any for a lot of years. The mayor wanted to be free to close it, which he did.
To get funding, you need to apply to the local FSDO. Tell them what you want to do, and tell them why the FEDs should pay any or part of the expense.
It is not a simple process, and the local airport must pay at least a portion of the expense. Also, the expenditure must be in their budget, which can mean that the approval for your airport may take as much as a year, and the money can take another year to be released.

Some examples of things that FEDs will help with are signage, lighting, surveys, approaches, taxi ways, runway refurbishment.

 

[Steve]

sky37D,

Thanks for the info. Anyone else have something to add??

 

[sky37d]

Oh, one more thing.
Only the official, listed, airport manager can apply for federal funding.
Most states have a procedure whereby they designate who is the airport manager. It can be anyone, but has to be approved.

 

[Steve]

Oh, one more thing.
Only the official, listed, airport manager can apply for federal funding.
Most states have a procedure whereby they designate who is the airport manager. It can be anyone, but has to be approved.

Wouldn't the owner of the airport be the airport manager, or would the fed's give that title to someone outside of the owner?

 

[Brother Francis]

If privately owned, in order to receive State/Federal funding the airport must be open to public use. There are standards that must be met (obstacle clearance, etc) in order to qualify for gov't funding as well.

If the locality and the state kick in 5% each, the Feds will pay the remaining 90% of the cost of improvements. Most state aviation departments have entire divisions dedicated to facilitating the process. A call to your state agency will provide specific and definitive answers to any questions you may have.

 

[sky37d]

Whew, good question. It is frequently the local state that does that determination.

We have a lot on an airport, a Privately owned, Public use, airport. The actual airport property is a condominium, owned by the condominium association, in that all of the owners own an undivided share of the runway, and taxiway. Keeps someone from getting a divorce and putting up a fence on the runway. So, we are one of the owners. The airport manager, however, is not one of the owners. He was established by the state, many years ago, and continues in that role today. We, the owners, have talked about replacing him, with someone from ownership. It is a simple, yet complicated process, it involves taking a test, passing the test, then petioning the state to change the designated airport manager. If the state agrees to the petition, then the change takes place. Note, however, that a considerable effort has to take place, and there has to be a good reason to replace the individual. Since the airport manager has a house off the runway, and is present in the area, and hasn't done anything "wrong", we haven't expended the effort to replace him.

If the airport is privately owned, the airport owner could be the manager. However, if that person was never designated by the state (and it varies from locale to locale), it could very well be that the state, and hence the feds, have designated some outside individual or organization as the "official" airport manager.

Oh, if it is privately owned, but not public use, then federal or state funds will be harder to get and use. In other words, if the VFR map says "P", don't look for the feds to do anything. If it is public use, no "P", the funding is available. Just red tape to get it.

 

[Steve]

Thanks for the info folks. A friend and I are considering buying an Airport in NY with a runway thats it rough shape. Would probibly need replaving soon. It is a public airport and has been so for as long as I remember. Thanks again and any more comments would be appreciates.

Steve