Lincoln Airport receives extra funding through CARES Act

The Lincoln Airport received $20,000 in funding through the CARES Act to support operations and maintenance.

The Lincoln Airport had a series of projects lined up to use Federal Aviation Administration grant funds through the Airport Improvement Program, which funds projects at 90 percent and requires a 10 percent match in local funds.

"About $140,000 in local match money is required for these projects," said Conway. "$20,000 will come from the CARES Act allocated to the Lincoln Airport. Likely most or all of that will come from sharing money with the Yellowstone Airport and/or from Aeronautics."

Because the Lincoln Airport is owned and operated by the State of Montana, the local match funds can come from the state, said Tim Conway, Aeronautics Division Administrator.

The Yellowstone Airport also received some funding through the CARES Act.

Projects for the Lincoln Airport include an instrument approach. "Generally that means in poor weather or low visibility, it allows them to approach the airport in these conditions and attempt a landing if criteria are met," said Conway.

To develop the instrument approach, an airport's geographic information systems (AGIS) survey is required to ensure there are no obstructions in the approach or departure path of aircraft. This survey is budgeted to cost approximately $100,000.

The angle of slope will need to be made flatter for an instrument approach. "We anticipate having to remove some obstructions, trees at both ends of the runway," said Conway. The estimated cost for this project is about $111,000.

After the instrument approach is in place, the FAA requires a test flight. "The FAA actually has an aircraft come up to the airport and fly that procedure as published and make sure that it's safe," said Conway. The budget for the flight is approximately $11,000.

"It will allow all types of aircraft and all reasons for aircraft to fly in, in conditions they otherwise wouldn't have been able to," said Conway. This includes firefighting operations and medevac transport, as well as personal and business flights. "It could enhance safety for night operations if pilots choose to use it," Conway added.

The installation of an automated weather observing system (AWOS) will allow broadcasting of the weather from the Lincoln Airport, impacting both visual flight rules and instrument flight rules. This system is budgeted to cost approximately $311,000.

"Another thing that the FAA requires is an airport master plan and that articulates what the plan is going forward for the airport. It tells you where you might have development, if you're going to extend a runway. So we're planning one of those," said Conway. The estimated cost for the master plan is $166,000.

The airport currently rents snow removal equipment from the Montana Department of Transportation, and volunteers run that equipment to keep the runway open through the winter. "The equipment is designed for highway snow removal, and it's older equipment," said Conway." "We've had some mechanical issues with it." Snow removal equipment is projected to cost $280,000. The FAA requires that snow removal equipment purchased with federal funds be housed in a building, and the projected cost of the building is $416,000.

The purchase of snow removal equipment was slated to occur outside of the current five year plan window for Lincoln for the Airports Capital Improvement Plan, but the CARES Act funding will allow the timeline for the project to be moved into the five year window.

"It's really a tremendous boost to the Lincoln Airport," said Conway in reference to the CARES Act funds.

The Lincoln Airport had an estimated 1,514 flights from May 2018–May 2019.