SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $5.8 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR LONG ISLAND MACARTHUR AIRPORT; FAA GRANT WILL HELP FUND CONSTRUCTION OF AIRCRAFT RESCUE & FIREFIGHTING BUILDING AT AIRPORT
Islip’s Long Island MacArthur Airport Serves 2 Million Passengers Each Year; Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting Services Help Ensure Airports, Like LI MacArthur, Are Safe In The Event of an Emergency, Improves Efficiency for Daily Operations
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $5 Million in FAA Funds to Construct Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting Building at LI MacArthur; New Building Will Better Help Protect Critical Emergency Equipment From Adverse Weather Conditions
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that Long Island MacArthur Airport is receiving a $5,880,437 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant to construct an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Building.
“Keeping our airports running smoothly and safely each and every day is essential to the health of the region’s economy,” said Senator Schumer. “These funds will give Long Island MacArthur Airport the resources it needs to keep passengers, pilots and crew safe in the event of an emergency.”
“This funding will enable the Long Island MacArthur Airport to build a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Building to maintain safety operations on site,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Investing in our airport’s infrastructure enables safer, more efficient service for the businesses and travelers who utilize it every day. I will continue to push for resources that enhance efficiency and public safety that New Yorkers can rely on.”
“This crucial funding will ensure that the two million travelers who use Long Island MacArthur Airport every year will have a safe and convenient experience. I want to thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their support of our airport and their commitment to the airport’s future,” said Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter.
The Town of Islip owns and operates Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma. The airport currently hosts three airlines: US Airways, Elite Airlines and Southwest Airlines, serving approximately 2 million commercial passengers each year.
According to the FAA, operators of Part 139 airports must provide aircraft rescue and firefighting services during air carrier operations.
The FAA grant will provide federal funds for Long Island MacArthur Airport to construct a 21,119 square foot Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting building, which will assist the airport in meeting safety requirements and extend the life of firefighting equipment by protecting it from adverse weather conditions. These funds will go towards phase 3 of a 4-phase project, which includes funding for general construction.
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