FAA Lauds Hazleton Regional Airport Efforts

Aug. 26, 2013
Hazleton's efforts to spruce up Hazleton Regional Airport have caught the eye of Federal Aviation Administration officials who commended the city for accomplishing more this year than it has in half a decade.

Aug. 24--Hazleton's efforts to spruce up Hazleton Regional Airport have caught the eye of Federal Aviation Administration officials who commended the city for accomplishing more this year than it has in half a decade.

With the city securing grants for improvement equipment and soliciting donations in exchange for naming rights for buildings at the airport, Mayor Joseph Yannuzzi pledges that progress will continue.

"We really shaped the place up," he said. "And, we're not done. There are a lot of things happening and pretty soon we'll be making more announcements."

FAA representatives Donato Belskis, Kenneth Arner and Marcello Alves sent a July 26 letter to engineer Dominic Yannuzzi recognizing accomplishments at the airport that led to more efficient and accurate flight inspections and helped the agency record "near perfect" runway measurements for the first time in years.

Extensive tree and brush cutting along the runway corrected symmetry in the width and created the most "symmetrical and stable" parameters at the facility over the past 25 years, the letter reads.

"We've had ongoing problems with the facility in the past few years and have always encountered some minor difficulties during flight inspections," the letter reads. "This time it was different. You were able to accomplish more in three months than in the five years prior to your involvement and we sincerely want to thank you for everything you've done."

The city took over as fixed based operator at the airport about two years ago. The fixed-base operator has historically been responsible for upkeep. Within that time frame, the city secured grants to purchase equipment for eliminating obstructions, entered a lease purchase for a hangar and a tug (or equipment that can tow planes), purchased two fuel trucks and upgraded fuel storage tanks that have been neglected for years, the mayor said.

Officials also took steps to secure sections of fencing at the facility to keep deer and turkey off the runway, the mayor said.

Problems in recent weeks with a fuel truck engine prevented some pilots from refueling vehicles but repairs and replacement parts were under warranty and the vehicle is back in service, the mayor said.

Calling the airport a "valuable city asset," Acting City Administrator Steve Hahn said the facility and its nearly 300 acres of land serve state police and PPL and have been used by a parachuting club, hobbyists, top executives and even Gov. Tom Corbett.

"As time goes on, we hope it becomes a busier place," Hahn said.

Corbett on Friday announced that the airport was awarded a $50,139 grant to complete design work for obstruction removal. Hazleton's airport was the lone Luzerne County facility to receive a grant and one of 15 airports in the commonwealth to receive a share of $5.4 million in state and federal grant funds that were awarded on Friday.