This summer will be busy for construction at the Northern Maine Regional Airport (PQI). A total of three Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) projects are planned for this year. One of the projects which has already been approved is completed. A second has been approved and is nearly completed. The third is in the process of being approved by the FAA. Best of all none of these projects have local general fund tax dollars in them.
The FAA contributes 95 percent with the State of Maine contributing 2.5 percent from a voter-approved bond issue. The remaining 2.5 percent is provided from revenue generated from Passenger Facility Charges (PFC). PFCs come directly from airline passengers using PQI.
The completed project involved sealing cracks in the pavement surfaces. This is critical to keeping water from running into the cracks and damaging the base. It is also important that during fall and spring that water does not get into these cracks, freeze and then expand. This process makes the crack wider and eventually causes a safety hazard. By implementing a routine pavement crack-sealing program, the life of the pavement is extended. For example the typical life of runway pavement is 20 years. At PQI we are getting as much as 10 additional years at a tremendous savings to the Federal and State taxpayer.
The second project that is now underway is the painting of the pavement markings for the runways, taxiways and aircraft parking ramps. Prior to this year, this work was completed by the local airport crew. This year due to increase regulations and the resulting escalating costs, it was decided to make it a FAA grant project. In this case, the FAA requires that the airport bid the work out to private contractors. While the overall cost of the project is higher, FAA will fund the project such that there is no cost to the local taxpayer as described above. It is expected that this project will be completed this week.
The third project which is still in the approval process involves the reconstruction of the general aviation ramp. Part of this project will include the demolition of an old hangar and the construction of a new hangar in a different location. The relocation of the hangar was necessary to meet current FAA and fire safety standards. This is a win-win for the local taxpayer as the old hangar was in need of some renovations in order to keep it in operation. The FAA nor the State of Maine would have participated financially in the renovation of the old hangar.
Scott Wardwell is airport director for the city of Presque Isle’s Northern Maine Regional Airport. He can be reached at 764-2550 or via email at scottw@flypresqueisle.com.
