The FAA has selected
Alexandria International Airport, in Alexandria, LA, and
Phoenix/Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, AZ, to participate in the
2009 Military Airport Program (MAP), which uses federal funds to
convert former military airports to civilian or joint-use airports.
The MAP funding, a set aside of the Airport Improvement Program
(AIP), provides a boost to civilian aviation capacity by upgrading
former military airports. The airports selected this year have
participated in the program before and remain committed to ensuring
that critical airport projects are completed so their respective
airports can operate safely and efficiently as civilian
facilities.
Alexandria International Airport (AEX), a commercial service
airport, will participate in the program for another three years.
The MAP funds will allow AEX to replace the aging former Air Force
fueling facility. The existing facility is archaic by today’s
commercial standards. The replacement of this facility, along with
those projects already completed, will bring the airport to current
civil design standards.
Phoenix/Mesa Gateway (IWA) will receive funds for an additional
three years to complete additional terminal area projects due to
the rapid growth at this non-hub commercial service airport. In
late 2007, Allegiant Air began air service at IWA and within two
months the airport had 21,103 passenger boardings. In the first
nine months of 2008, there were 120,150 passenger boardings with
the planes 88 percent full.
The MAP funding set aside is $23.7 million for all the airports
participating in the program for fiscal year 2009. The type of
projects that compete for MAP funding include building or
rehabilitating parking lots, fuel farms, hangars, utility systems,
access roads, and cargo buildings.
A total of 15 airports may participate in the program at any one
time, including one general aviation airport. Airports may receive
financial assistance for up to five years. Since 1990, the FAA has
provided airport sponsors approximately $563 million for a variety
of projects that are not normally eligible for AIP funding.
However, projects for MAP-designated airports have unique
eligibility rules to convert the airports to civilian or joint
use.
Airports already participating in
the program include:
- Plattsburgh International Airport, Plattsburgh, NY
- Sawyer International Airport, Marquette, MI
- Portsmouth International Airport, Pease, NH
- San Bernardino International, San Bernardino, CA
- Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport at Roosevelt Roads, Ceiba,
PR
- Griffiss Airpark, Oneida County, NY
- Okaloosa Regional Airport, Valparaiso, FL
- March Inland Port, Riverside, CA
- Chippewa County International, Sault Ste Marie, MI
- A.B. Won Pat International Airport, Agana, GU