Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Penn Yan Airport in Yates County will receive approximately $208,195.00 in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for airport infrastructure upgrades. Specifically, Penn Yan Airport will use these funds to install new runway lighting, which will increase safety and energy efficiency as well as departure and arrival times. The current system that lights the runway is not enclosed, and therefore exposed to weather and other elements that cause natural wear and tear; this exposure has resulted in the lighting strips beginning to fray. This poses both safety and productivity issues for the airport. The new lighting system will be covered and therefore increase safety and make it easier for planes to take off and land. These LED lights that will be used are also more energy efficient than the current lighting system and will allow the airport to save on energy costs overall. This will not only allow the airport to put its money towards future airport improvements but also help the airport as a whole become more environmentally friendly.
“Lighting up the Penn Yan runway in a safer, more energy efficient way is a win-win-win for the airport, customers arriving and departing from Penn Yan and the surrounding community,” said Senator Schumer. “Providing Penn Yan Airport with the modern lighting amenities it needs will improve safety and efficiency on the runway, and make Penn Yan a more attractive place for tourists and business travelers to land.”
“Airport safety must be a priority,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Ensuring the pilots and airport staff have clear visibility of the runways will help keep people traveling through the Penn Yan airport and the surrounding areas safe. This is an important investment that would help greatly enhance airport safety measures during unforseen adverse weather conditions.”
“This grant will be used to replace existing medium intensity edge lights along our newest runway 1-19,” said Timothy Dennis, Chairman of the Yates County Legislature. “The new LED lights and conduit wiring will enhance the safety of our airport operations. In addition the lighting will be more energy efficient and result in reduced cost of operations. This is another step in our continued efforts to modernize our airport infrastructure that contributes to the economic development of our entire county.”
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.