Cost Of The Project Will Top $500,000

The Salina Airport Authority has approved a short-, medium- and long-range master planning process for the Salina Regional Airport. In action taken Wednesday, the board of directors accepted a grant agreement from the Federal Aviation Administration for $475,182 to cover 90 percent of the project's cost. The federal funds will be supplemented with 10 percent local funds, including a $26,399 grant from the State of Kansas Department of Transportation and $26,399 from the Salina Airport Authority, bringing the total project cost to $527,980. The authority selected Coffman Associates Airport Consultants, Kansas City, through an FAA approved selection process to create the plan.

"Replacing a 1991 plan, the airport's new master plan will be a comprehensive study of the airport," said Salina Airport Authority Executive Director Tim Rogers, A.A.E. "It will describe the short-, medium- and long-term development projects necessary to meet current and future aviation demand for the next 20 years."
 
The new master plan will detail an operations strategy for airport growth and provides a framework for future development that is cost-effective, meets the needs of airport users, tenants and the local community, economic development, and complies with federal aviation and environmental regulations. The study is expected to be completed in about one year. "The new Salina Regional Airport master plan update will focus on the specific needs of the airport. The scope of study has been tailored to our needs and includes aerial and ground-based surveys needed for an electronic airport layout plan, which is now required by the FAA and which will be a significant benefit to our future developments."
 
As "America's Fuel Stop" the Salina Regional Airport annually supports approximately 6,000 business jets that use Salina for refueling on cross-country trips. In addition, the airport also serves as a forward operating location for military aviation units that deploy to Saline County and the Great Plains Joint Training Center operated by the Kansas National Guard.
 
A recent study by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University found that a total economic impact of over 10,000 jobs and more than $323 million in payroll was due to business activity at the Salina Regional Airport and Airport Industrial Center. As a result of this business activity, Salina gained nearly $2 million, Saline County gained close to $1.5 million, and the State of Kansas over $12.1 million in net tax impact during 2010.

(Image provided by the Salina Airport Authority)

FMI: www.salinaairport.com