PORT ANGELES –– With help from two area airports, William R. Fairchild International Airport should be able to construct a new apron starting this summer.
Fairchild, operated by the Port of Port Angeles, recently received $300,000 in funding from the city of Forks and the Port of Port Townsend.
“We appreciate the donations,” said Jerry Ludke, airport manager. “It really made the project come together, and we would have been scrambling otherwise.”
Each agency donated $150,000 of federal money for capital projects that otherwise would have been returned to the federal government.
The Federal Aviation Administration provides grants to small, publicly owned airports for capital improvement projects.
These regional airports are eligible to receive $150,000 per year, which must be used within four years.
If it isn’t used, the money is returned to the federal government. Airports that do not use all of the funds are allowed to donate to other airports rather than send the funding back to the FAA.
‘Very generous’
“It was very generous of the Port of Port Townsend and Forks,” Ludke said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to return the favor sometime down the road.”
The apron, used for maneuvering or parking aircraft, should be finished in September or early October and is a much-needed improvement to the airport, Ludke said.
“Currently when we get more than one mid-sized business jet, it gets congested,” he said. “It’s just not a great environment.”
With the improvements, the airport would be able to handle more mid-sized aircraft as the local economy continues to grow, he said.
The total cost of the project is about $1.45 million and is mostly grant-funded.
The FAA provided 95 percent of the funding ($1,303,323), while the state Department of Transportation provided 5 percent ($72,612), which the Port of Port Angeles matched ($72,201).
Ludke said the airport is now just waiting for one more federal grant, but construction should start by the end of this month.
Construction itself will cost about $1.07 million.
“We are very grateful for the additional funding from our sister airports,” said Karen Goschen, Port of Port Angeles executive director.
“This is another example of regional partnering that is so beneficial for all concerned, especially the citizens.
“Cooperation and mutual support lifts all communities,” she continued.
“The Port of Port Angeles looks forward to future opportunities for partnering.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
