Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $705,600 in federal grants to the Cattaraugus County – Olean Airport for important infrastructure improvements. Specifically, a $633,600 grant will be used to help create a taxilane to assist aircrafts accessing aircraft hangars parallel to taxiway A. In addition, a $72,000 grant will be used to build a perimeter fence specifically to protect the airport from inadvertent entry and wildlife hazards.
“These Federal Aviation Administration grants will allow for important infrastructure upgrades at the Cattaraugus County – Olean Airport, which will make the taxiway and the entire airport safer, more modern and more efficient,” said Senator Schumer. “This job-creating infrastructure project will ensure that the Cattaraugus County – Olean Airport can continue to serve businesses, residents and visitors and help boost the area’s economy.”
“This is an important investment for the Cattaraugus County – Olean Airport,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Updating the airport’s infrastructure can help provide better, safer service for travelers and business, and help strengthen the local economy.”
The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) through the Federal Aviation Administration provides grants to public agencies — and, in some cases, to private owners and entities — for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The NPIAS, which is prepared and published every 2 years, identifies public-use airports that are important to public transportation and contribute to the needs of civil aviation, national defense, and the Postal service.
The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) was established by the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982. Since then, the AIP has been amended several times, most recently with the passage of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Funds obligated for the AIP are drawn from the Airport and Airway Trust fund, which is supported by user fees, fuel taxes, and other similar revenue sources.