Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that $72,000 in federal funding was awarded to Ontario County through the Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Ontario County will use this federal grant to purchase land adjacent to the existing runway at Canandaigua Airport and extend the runway by 2,300 feet for an ultimate length of 5,500 feet. This is the final piece in the project’s planning and development phase and now positions the project for construction.
“This Department of Transportation grant will ensure that Canandaigua residents, businesses and all visitors to the area can continue to access one of our nation’s most beautiful regions year round,” said Senator Schumer. “Whether they travel for business or pleasure, passengers can now look forward to a safer, smoother landing on Canandaigua Airport’s runway.”
“This is a great investment for Canandaigua Airport,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Expanding the airport will help open the beauty of the Finger Lakes to more travelers and businesses to strengthen our tourism industry, and strengthen the local economy for years to come.”
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.