The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides grants to public agencies for planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. The Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field is one of many airports that is eligible to receive federal grants under this program to replace aging infrastructure and equipment.

These grant funds will assist in design, engineering, and acquisition to replace an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting apparatus.  Currently, the airport deploys a 2005 Oshkosh Striker in order to meet stringent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards.  Within these standards the FAA recommends airports replace their fire apparatus every fifteen years to ensure reliability and adequate response to aircraft accidents.  The 2005 Oshkosh Striker continues to witness increased maintenance attention and lack of available replacement parts as the apparatus continues to age. 

Additionally, the grant funds will assist the airport in design and engineering costs for the replacement of the High Intensity Runway Edge (HIRL) lighting system.  This lighting system is required in order to facilitate aircraft operations during hours of darkness and during times of inclement weather.  Furthermore, the project will crack seal and sealcoat asphalt surfaces which will extend the overall life expectancy of the airport's primary runway.

It is estimated both grant applications will request approximately One Million Two Hundred Fifty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-One ($1,258,251) dollars, of which 90% of the total costs will be funded by the FAA and the remaining 10% by the airport's Passenger Facility Charges. 

Notes:

·         Projects are funded by FAA grants which will not impact the city's 2019-20 general fund budget. 

·         Grant application for the fire apparatus, Runway HIRL, and crack seal will be submitted in August 2019 when equipment bids are received.