Tri-State Airport gets nearly $4.5M in funds

HUNTINGTON -- Tri-State Airport will receive nearly $4.5 million in federal funding through the Federal Aviation Administration to improve safety for planes taking off there.

The funds are the second part of a two-part grant, and they'll allow the airport to construct a 1,000-foot overrun at the west end of the runway. That gives planes extra room to stop, should they come up short in taking off, said Jim Booton, president of the Tri-State Airport Authority.

"It's a safety area," he said. "And in doing that, we're going to gain 500 feet in takeoff. ...We'd like to see the runway extended 1,000 feet itself, but you have to take one step at a time."

But it's an asset that moves the airport toward being able to accommodate planes with larger fuel tanks that fly longer distances, Booton said.

If Allegiant Air ever gets planes big enough for a direct flight from Huntington to Las Vegas, where Allegiant is based, "We'll be ready," Booton said.

The airport's ridership has soared since Allegiant started offering direct flights from Huntington to Florida in late 2006. It now offers direct, low-fare flights to Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg. Booten would eventually like to see a direct flight to Las Vegas, if the pieces ever fall into place.

The $4.46 million grant was announced Tuesday by U.S. Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Robert C. Byrd, both D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va.

Rockefeller is chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee.

"Airports are essentially the backbone of every local economy," Rockefeller said in a press release from his office in Washington. "This grant will help Tri-State Airport repair its runway and make other necessary upgrades. These improvements play an important role in making air travel safer for our residents and visitors."

The funds will not only help ensure the safety of those who use Tri-State airport, but expand opportunities there for the long-term, Byrd said in the release.

Booton said he hopes work gets under way at Tri-State during this construction season.

The airport's grant was awarded through the Air Improvement Program, which provides significant funding to local airports to help them modernize the air traffic control system and expand runways and other facilities.