Idea: Boost Capacity By Upgrading Military Airports For Joint Use

The FAA Wednesday selected five airports to participate in the Military Airport Program (MAP) intended to boost aviation capacity through funding to upgrade military airports for civil or joint use.

The airports are Griffiss Airpark, Rome (NY); Millington Municipal Airport, Millington (TN); Sawyer Airport, Gwinn (MI); Okalossa County Airport, Valparaiso (FL); and Alexandria International Airport (LA).

"This program adds capacity in key locations and is an inexpensive way to reduce flight delays," said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey.

Using federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds, the MAP provides financial assistance for up to five years to the civilian sponsor of military airfields.

Additional information on the MAP selections:

• Griffiss Airpark, a general aviation airport and the former Griffiss Air Force Base, will receive funds for four years to bring runway lighting into compliance with FAA standards, construct security fencing around the airport, and build a terminal building.
• As a reliever airport for Memphis International, Millington Municipal will receive funds for two years to construct T-hangars and for other hangar renovation.
• Sawyer Airport will use its three-year funding for extensive hangar renovation. The former Air Force Base is the commercial service airport for Marquette (MI).
• For four years, the MAP will assist Okaloosa County Airport and Eglin Air Force Base, a joint-use facility, to conduct terminal expansion, utility work on the electrical and water systems, and to construct a cargo building and a fuel farm. This is the commercial service airport for Valparaiso (FL).
• The Alexandria International Airport will use its two-year funding to build a large hangar to accommodate the repair of jet aircraft. Alexandria, formerly England Air Force Base, is the commercial service airport in the city.

This fiscal year, the FAA will provide airport sponsors $35 million in MAP funds. Since 1990, the FAA has assisted airport sponsors with funding for a variety projects such as building or rehabilitating surface parking lots, fuel farms, hangars, utility systems, access roads and cargo buildings. Many of these projects are not normally eligible for AIP funding, but projects for MAP-designated airports have unique eligibility rules in order to convert the airports to civilian use.

Airports already participating in the program include: Guam International Airport; Mid America Airport, Belleville (IL); Plattsburgh International Airport (NY); Cecil Field, Jacksonville (FL); Tipton Airport, Odenton (MD); Mather Airport, Sacramento (CA); March Inland Port, Riverside (CA); Gray Army Airfield in Killeen (TX); Kalaeloa Airport, Oahu (HI); and Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville (CA).

FMI: www.faa.gov