Chesco airports get substantial funding for upgrades

WEST CHESTER >> Two airports in Chester County received substantial state funding for infrastructure and equipment upgrades that will improve and maintain safety.

The two airports are among 26 statewide that received a total of $6 million in state investments for safety upgrades and to expand aviation-related operational and economic opportunities, the Wolf Administration announced Friday.

The Brandywine Regional Airport in West Chester will receive $150,000 for the design of new hangar site infrastructure, and the Chester County/G.O. Carlson Airport in Coatesville will receive $1 million for the construction of new hangar

site development infrastructure; $18,750 to install an airport communications link between aircraft and air traffic control.

“I’m pleased that the Brandywine Airport is getting this attention from the state – it’s an amazing economic multiplier for our region – and the development there is sure to create jobs,” said state Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-156. “I look forward to supporting more

development at Brandywine, as officials there continue to grow and improve its services and infrastructure.”

State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, said he is pleased the G.O. Carlson Airport received funding.

“These funds will help improve the safety of our local, public-use airports, while boosting our regional economy and supporting our workforce,” Dinniman said.

Included in the grants is $2.2 million in state funding from PennDOT’s Aviation Development Program, which comes from the state’s jet fuel tax, and $4 million from the Multimodal fund. The two funding streams leverage $2.1 million in local matching funds. Public-use airports in the state are eligible for the Aviation Development

Program.

“With more than 400 airports across the state, this support from my administration helps keep aviation a viable transportation alternative and adds to our economy as well,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “These airports support hundreds of thousands of jobs and offer services that are attractive to the business community and others interested in general aviation.”

The Chester County projects come as part of more than $6 million in state investments allocated to twenty-six airports across the Commonwealth. Included in the grants is $2.2 million in state funding from PennDOT’s Aviation Development Program, which comes from the state’s jet fuel tax, and $4 million from the Multimodal fund.