The funding actually marks $257.4 million in funding for Alaska’s airports in Fiscal Year 2021 which have come from a total of 64 grants.

“These grants reflect our ongoing commitment to the unique needs of [the] Alaska aviation community and our focus on supporting the extensive Alaska National Airspace System,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson in a press release.

“Transportation connectivity is paramount to reach communities throughout our great nation. These grants are key to achieve that goal,” added Arlando Teller, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs.

Airports set to receive the funding include Bethel Airport, Chefornak Airport, Kipnuk Airport, Kenai Municipal Airport, Warren "Bud" Woods Palmer Municipal Airport, Atqasuk Edward Burnell Sr. Memorial Airport, and the Metlakatla Airport.

Bethel’s airport will get an additional $6 million on top of the $34.3 million that was announced in August to replace the lighting vault, restore airfield guidance signs, rehabilitate the taxiway and make some purchases like snow removal equipment and an emergency generator.

The Chefornak Airport will get $6.6 million to fix access roads and the airports’ runway. 

Kipnuk’s airport will get $18.9 million for “improvements to navigational aids, which include installing new aids as well as the reconstruction of the airport beacon and taxiway lighting. In addition, the airport will use grant funding to widen the runway and rehabilitate the taxiway and apron where planes park.”

The Atqasuk Edward Burnell Sr. Memorial Airport is getting $3.1 million on top of the $20.7 million announced in August to “install navigational aids, including apron edge lights and flood lighting, reconstruct runway and taxiway lighting, replace the airport lighting vault, install additional perimeter fencing, and rehabilitate the airport’s runway, taxiway, and apron where planes park.”

The airport in Metlakatla will get $6.5 million to fix the seaplane base.

Photo via Flickr.