(Ames, Iowa) – The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) approved $8.8 million for the fiscal year 2024 State Aviation Program, which includes several subprograms. Among the projects approved were those at the Council Bluffs, Creston and Harlan Municipal Airports.

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) will fund $5.3 million for a variety of aviation safety initiatives, system planning, and air service development activities. It will also provide funding for airport development projects at 17 airports in Iowa. Eligible AIP projects 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 initiatives; and the mitigation of obstruction and wildlife hazards at airports. The AIP program is funded with revenue from aircraft registration fees and aviation fuel taxes.

Among the projects is:

• The construction of a Hangar Site Development Area for the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport ($267,200 from the State toward the $668,000 cost of the project), and,
• Obstruction Analysis and Mitigation Plan at the Creston Municipal Airport ($8,000 from the State toward the $10,000 cost of the project).
  

Aviation vertical infrastructure programs will provide $3.5 million for projects at 11 general aviation airports and eight commercial service airports throughout Iowa. These 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.

Among the AVIP Projects is the installation of new Hangar Doors at the Harlan Municipal Airport ($125,000 from the State toward the $150,000 cost of the project).

Iowa DOT Aviation Director Tim McClung notes that smart capital investment from state, federal, local, and private funding sources are keeping Iowa’s aviation system competitive.