Cumberland County Airport Allotted State Funds to Acquire Private Airport

Twelve Pennsylvania airports will receive a portion of $10 million in state grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced Wednesday.

“Aviation plays a vital role in keeping our state’s economy moving,” Wolf said. “These investments will help Pennsylvania’s airports operate safely, expand to meet current demands, and sustain growth well into the future.”

Carlisle Airport, in Cumberland County, is slated to receive $3 million to acquire South Middleton Township’s airport. The acquisition of the privately-owned airport will “help to preserve the future” of the facility “within the jurisdiction as a public-use general aviation airport,” Wolf’s office said.

“Public ownership typically provides for a more stable environment to preserve and improve an airport,” according to the announcement. “Acquisition cost includes airport land and existing facilities, runways, aircraft parking, hangars, and aviation fuel storage.”

Funding comes from PennDOT’s Aviation Transportation Assistance Program. Wolf’s office said the investments will help to “expand aviation-related operational and economic opportunities statewide.”

Pennsylvania ranks 16th nationwide for having the most public-use aviation facilities. As of April 2021, there are 124 airports, heliports, and seaplane bases across the commonwealth.

The following 11 airports also received funding:

Allegheny County: Pittsburgh International Airport – $2.4 million for continued commercial air cargo facility development, including air cargo buildings, aircraft, and vehicular access and parking.

Bedford County: Bedford County Airport – $187,500 to replace the floor in its first unit hangar built-in 1991.

Blair County: Altoona-Blair County Airport – $100,000 for continued construction of a corporate hangar facility.

Bucks County:

• Doylestown Airport – $150,000 to repave and reseal aircraft parking areas and taxiways.
• Quakertown Airport – $150,000 to make exterior improvements and increase the energy efficiency of the terminal building.

Cambria County: John Murtha Johnstown – Cambria County Airport – $100,000 to continue the update of the passenger terminal facility, including energy efficiency improvements.

Jefferson County: DuBois Regional Airport – $450,000 to improve facilities including hangars, administration building, and other airport structures.

Lehigh County: Lehigh Valley International Airport – $1,778,500 million to continue terminal connector and security checkpoint expansion as well as enhance terminal commercial development connectivity.

Lycoming County: Williamsport Regional Airport – $322,500 for site work and $761,500 for construction of a 12,000 square foot hangar complex.

Venango County: Venango Regional Airport – $150,000 for continued rehabilitation of the airport’s aviation fuel storage system.

Westmoreland County: Arnold Palmer Regional Airport – $450,000 for improvements to the terminal building, including informational signage, and construction of an aircraft deicing fluid containment facility which will be a safeguard against environmental contamination.

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