AMES, Iowa – Aug. 12, 2019 – The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Monday) approved $7.6 million for the fiscal year 2020 State Aviation Program, which includes several subprograms. The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) will fund $4.5 million for aviation safety, planning, and airport development projects at 19 different airports throughout Iowa. Among them is a Fuel system upgrade for the Red Oak Municipal Airport. The project will receive $129,375 toward a total project cost of $172,500. And, the Shenandoah Regional Airport will receive $90,000 toward the $120,000 cost of the construction of six unit T-hangar taxi lanes. The Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City will receive $425,000 to rehabilitate “Taxiway A.” The project will cost $3.29-million.

Projects funded through the AIP include runway, taxiway, and apron development; fuel systems; navigational aids; maintenance of aviation weather systems; runway marking; windsocks; emergency operational repairs; land-use planning; air service development; and the mitigation of obstruction and wildlife hazards at airports. AIP programs are funded with revenue from aircraft registration fees and aviation fuel taxes.

Aviation vertical infrastructure programs will provide $3.1 million for projects at 10 general aviation airports and eight commercial service airports throughout Iowa. The Atlantic Municipal Airport will receive $75,000 toward the $168,750 cost of Hangar Rehab; The Harlan Municipal Airport is receiving $75,000 for the $101,400 cost of Hangar door installation, and the Shenandoah Regional Airport will receive $150,000 toward the $250,000 cost of the construction of a 6 unit T-Hangar. The Sioux Gateway Airport will receive $134,923 toward the $155,00 cost of terminal and hangar repair.

The programs provide funding for the maintenance and development of airport facilities, such as terminal buildings, maintenance facilities, and aviation hangars. Vertical infrastructure programs are funded from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund. The State Aviation Program supplements local and federal funding sources and seeks to maintain a safe and effective statewide air transportation system.