Hartsfield-Jackson Receives $40 million from FAA

FEATURE ARTICLE

Hartsfield-Jackson Receives $40 million from FAA
By Herschel J. Grangent, Jr.

FAA Administrator Marion Blakey

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Marion Blakey recently announced that her organization is awarding a $40 million Airport Improvement Program grant to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The announcement came during a June 11 press conference in the Airport’s Atrium.

“It is extremely important for us to continue to invest in the world’s busiest airport,” said Blakey.

"Hartsfield-Jackson is the workhorse of the aviation world, and maintaining it will most certainly have a positive effect on airports throughout the country and the world.”

The funds will be distributed as follows:

Payment of $18.3 million for Runway 10-28 (the Fifth Runway). The FAA’s total commitment to the runway is $179 million from 2000 through 2009.
Payment of $7 million for the end-around taxiway (Taxiway V). The FAA’s total grant for the taxiway is $26 million from 2006 through 2010.
Entitlement grant for $8 million for apron rehabilitation. The apron is a paved where aircraft are loaded and unloaded. Entitlement grants are based on the number of passengers boarding aircraft at an airport.
Discretionary grant for $7.1 million for improvement to the Runway Safety Area (RSA) at the end of Runway 27R , the Airport’s longest at 11,900 feet. The grant will be used to ensure that the RSA is in compliance with FAA standards. Discretionary grants are issued by the FAA to help airports meet important safety, capacity or planning needs.

Department of Aviation Deputy General Manager Mario Diaz accepted the grant on behalf of the Airport.

“We are thankful to Administrator Blakey and the FAA for this grant,” said Diaz. “It is an investment not only in Hartsfield-Jackson, but the aviation industry as a whole. It will help us to continue our goal of being the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by exceeding our customers’ expectations.”