Winslow Airport Projects Depend On Grant Funding

By Sam Conner
   The Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport has plans to spend $1,175,000 in 2010, $13,528,061 by 2014 and $50,377,291 eventually on improvements at the facility. Of those totals in 2010, $1,116,250 may be Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants and $29,375 state Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) grants. That would leave just $29,375 for the local share of funding.
   Airports such as the one at Winslow are vital for the defense of the country. This is the primary, but not the only reason for the federal funding that comes to airports all over the United States. Such airports are also important to the national economy. The Winslow-Lindbergh Airport is an important link in the aerial firefighting that protects national forests.
   The state funding is made available for many of the same reasons.
   Short term funding of projects planned for the airport through 2014 call for spending of $13,637,810. Of this amount, $10,385,695 should be FAA eligible and possibly paid by grants from that agency. Another $338,202 may be expected from ADOT grants funding. That would leave Winslow responsible for local funding of $338,202.
   While the city’s portion of the funding for needed improvements is less than what is expected from the federal government, this is still a significant investment. There are several sources for local funds considered by planners in an airport report.
   One source of local funding would be land leases. The city currently leases several entities at the airport for aviation related uses, and there is still land on existing airport property that could be developed for aviation related uses. The city could build hangars at the airport, but this would require a significant initial investment. These facilities could then be leased and possibly prove profitable. Tie-down fees are another possible source of revenue.
   The city currently receives some funds from fuel sales made by Wiseman Aviation at the airport. These revenues are expected to increase due to higher amounts of fuel being used by turbine powered aircraft.
   Other possible sources of income could include landing fees and automobile parking fees. There is a danger to be considered before landing fees are imposed. Those fees might result in less air traffic at the airport, and a loss of revenue from fueling of aircraft that equals or exceeds that obtained from landing fees. The airport does not currently have the parking volume to benefit from either of these fees. This could be a revenue source to consider at some time in the future when both ground and air traffic at the facility has increased.
   There may also come a time when advertising at the airport is a revenue source. Concessions there could also become a revenue source. Many of the possible local revenue sources depend upon a growth of usage of the facility.
   It remains likely that a good airport will prove to be a valuable asset for the city of Winslow, and one that should be valued and improved where possible. This was the goal of the planners on the Airport Commission.