Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Greater Binghamton Airport is set to receive a $1,134,153 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant to rehabilitate the west apron at the airport. The west apron at Greater Binghamton is separate from the runways and taxiways and is where aircraft are loaded and unloaded, boarded, parked and refueled.
“I’m pleased to add this million dollar grant to the list of ‘arrivals’ at Greater Binghamton,” said Senator Schumer. “This federal grant will help Greater Binghamton Airport upgrade its aircraft staging areas, thereby increasing their efficiency and ability to turn around flights even faster, to serve more residents, businesses and visitors each day.”
“This is an important investment for the Greater Binghamton Airport,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Investments like this in our transportation infrastructure is one of the fastest, most effective ways to strengthen our economy. Updating the runway apron can help provide better, safer service for travelers and business, keep more flights on the move through the Southern Tier, and help strengthen the local economy.”
The funding for Greater Binghamton Airport is part of the Airport Improvement Program, administered by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration. The Airport Improvement Program provides grants to public agencies for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).
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.