The Facts About FAA Funding

A week or so ago, The News Herald published an article that left the impression that FAA funding for our airport could be delayed, impacting the project. Unfortunately, this impression is inaccurate, and the News Herald story did not include a few pertinent facts.

The fact is, the FAA had already appropriated $28 million of the $72 million promised for the project. There’ll be no delay getting that money once all permits and approvals are in place.

An FAA spokesperson said it’s full $72 million commitment was “firm” and “will not change.” The rest of the grant has been promised to be disbursed within the next four years. The exact timing of disbursement may shift, but the FAA has made a commitment.

Furthermore, Randy Curtis has said that the Airport Authority’s financial plan takes into account the potential shift in timing of the disbursement of FAA funds.

The FAA spokesperson also said that the new airport “makes a lot of sense” – and he compared its potential to the highly successful Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.

Meanwhile in Washington, Congress is reauthorizing the FAA’s budget. And like any piece of legislation, it’s impossible to predict when Congress will complete work on it and send it to the President. But have no fear: The FAA is not going away.

And neither is our money.