LAWTON - Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport will receive $500,000 from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) to offset construction costs of its terminal renovation project.
Last week, the OAC announced that over the next five years, more than $142 million will be allocated for airport renovations statewide. Projects are prioritized based on safety, preservation, standards, and capacity. With 104 general aviation airports in the state system, Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport is one of 75 sets to receive funding from the Commission’s Airport Construction Program (ACP).
In Aug. 22 phone interview, Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport Director Barbara McNally confirmed that the ACP funds will be used for construction costs to renovate the airport’s existing terminal. Estimated at close to $3.8 million, McNally says the remaining $3.3 million is expected from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).
Over the next five years, 75 of Oklahoma’s airport projects will receive ACP funding. Of those listed, $7.5 million was slated to reconstruct the main runway at Ponca City Regional Airport, and $2.2 million will be used for repairs to Guymon’s runways. Oklahoma metro area general reliever airports Wi- ley Post in Oklahoma City and Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. in Tulsa all will receive $6.5 million and $6.6 million respectively for various runway and taxiway upgrades.
Although the state has invested $22.8 million to be utilized over the next five years, that figure only accounts for 16% of the $142 million. OAC Aeronautics Director Victor Bird explained the agency’s funding mechanism by saying, “the Aeronautics Commission does not receive any appropriated dollars from the Legislature. “The state’s investment in the airport system is funded by the taxes and fees paid by aircraft owners and pilots that use Oklahoma’s airports,” Bird said.
LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL
With the commission’s attention centered on safety, improving standards and rehabilitating the pavement along the runways, OAC’s deputy director says the commission plans to address lighting and electrical issues across the state.
“We’ve spent the last 15 years really focusing on our safety and standards improvements as well as bring- ing up our pavement conditions to acceptable levels,” said agency Deputy Director Grayson Ardies. “This has led to our lighting and electrical systems to age a bit more than we would like,” he continued. This renewed focus on lighting will ensure 100% functionality during all weather conditions and times of day at our airports.
AT A GLANCE: Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport
• In 1929, the City of Lawton purchased 120 acres of land on South Sixth Street.
• In 1944, the City voted a $595,000 bond issue to build a new municipal airport.
• The new airport opened on Labor Day 1950.