Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a $677,250 federal grant to the Elmira Corning Regional Airport for important infrastructure improvements. Specifically, this funding will be used to rehabilitate six off-airport beacons in the high terrain surrounding the airport. The existing beacons are over thirty years old and have reached the end of their useful lives. This project includes repair or replacement of the support towers and electrical service to the beacons.
“This Federal Aviation Administration grant will ensure that the beacons in high terrain areas are working properly and will help pilots landing at Elmira Corning Regional Airport,” said Senator Schumer. “This project will ensure that the Elmira Corning Regional Airport can continue to serve businesses, residents and visitors and help boost the economy in the Southern Tier.”
“This is an important investment for the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Updating the airport’s lighting 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.