Special delivery for Orange County Airport in Montgomery: a Federal Aviation Administration grant in the amount of $1.6 million for land acquisition and easement protection arrived last week.
The grant will be invested to bring runway 3/21 in compliance with current FAA Runway Safety Area Requirements. The FAA is funding 95 percent of the project, New York state is funding 2.5 percent and Orange County will provide the last 2.5 percent.
“This significant federal funding, as well as the support from New York state, reinforces the importance of Orange County Airport as a general aviation facility,” County Executive Ed Diana said. “The airport contributes to our local economy, creates jobs and business opportunities and enhances the quality of life..”
“Since opening to the public in 1963, we have experienced strong, consistent growth,” said Grant W. Sussey, the airport”™s director of aviation. “This funding is critical to our efforts to enhance and maintain the safety of our pilots and passengers well into the future.”
Located on Dunn Road in Montgomery, Orange County Airport is a general aviation facility primarily serving small private and corporate aircraft. The airport has two runways, numerous taxiways and aircraft parking areas, aircraft service businesses, a restaurant, and several instrument approaches enabling pilots to land in inclement weather.  The grant-funded airport modifications are scheduled to begin this fall and be completed by the third quarter of 2012.
