Albert J. Ellis airport continues historic growth with $11 million grant. How will it be used?
The money just keeps coming in for Albert J. Ellis Airport as nearly $11 million in grant funding has been accepted by the Onslow County Board of Commissioners for OAJ.
Albert J. Ellis Airport (OAJ) was one of the fastest recovering airports in the nation following the near shutdown resulting from the pandemic, according to Airport Director Chris White. He said that is a testament to the strength of OAJ's market. Aside from the current pilot shortage issue, White added the future for air service in Onslow County and the Mid-Atlantic region is very strong.
A recent news release from the county said the Onslow County Board of Commissioners accepted a Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grant totaling $8,420,073, which will be used for a runway rehabilitation project that will mill over 144,000 square yards of asphalt and place an estimated 28,000 tons of asphalt.
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"Airport runways are among some of the most critical and utilized infrastructure at airports," White said in the release, adding the project is expected to begin in the spring of 2023 and will significantly benefit the community. "With aircraft weighing upwards of 300,000 pounds, zooming down at over 150 knots, this pavement experiences forces, unlike most roadways. It's normal for the pavement to be rehabilitated every 10-20 years and the cost of paving has tracked with oil, making the financial support provided by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and NCDOT (North Carolina Department of Transportation) immensely valuable.”
The release said North Carolina has also appropriated $2,462,397 in the recent state budget for additional airport improvements such as site work for future hangar development, updated navigational aids, new and upgraded facilities and more.
The funds come after the state approved $29 million in funds last year to lengthen the runway at OAJ, allowing for larger aircraft and longer flights. The release added all the funds are designed to boost the quality of life and benefit economic development efforts in Onslow County.
"The 1.3 mile-long parallel taxiway was completed earlier this year," White said. "The prior $29 million grant received previously is designated to extend the runway and move the highway. The first project is for preservation and the runway extension will expand OAJ’s capabilities. Both are great for our community."
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White said these improvements have already yielded results. For example, Delta Air Lines operates a mainline flight on a B717 that wouldn't have been possible at the old terminal, White explains. Aircraft will also now be able to fly further and carry more fuel, freight and passengers when the runway is extended. White added additional flights and destinations depending upon local demand and airline availability.
After American Airlines announced last month it was cutting over 28,000 domestic flights from its November schedule, 55 of which affect OAJ, improvements like these could help ensure the airport is not as heavily impacted during times like these.
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White said according to an N.C. state study, OAJ supports 3,460 jobs with an economic output of over $565 million and generates about $20 million in state and local taxes. He encourages people to fly local.
"These are your neighbors, fellow parishioners and customers," White said. "These numbers grow as more people use the airport. If you fly from another airport, their local jobs increase and the tax dollars generated don’t help to lower your local taxes. In order to attract new air service airlines, look to see what the demand is between the two cities. If that demand through a hub is significant, they will establish a direct connection. If a local traveler departs from another airport, they are seen as a local to that airport, thus the demand from their local airport isn’t counted."
In addition, many of the capital funds, like these grants, are tied to the number of passengers that use the airport. Fewer passengers results in less funding to upgrade and grow facilities, White said, adding local airports are known for shorter lines, friendly staff and overall less hassle.
White said in the release that flyers can expect even more great things to come.
“With an updated airfield and fresh facilities, OAJ is well positioned to serve our growing community well into the future," White said. "We’re also not complete upgrading OAJ and more transformational projects are on the horizon designed to expand opportunities.”
Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Albert J. Ellis airport continues historic growth with $11 million grant
