MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Regional Airport is among 93 Ohio airports receiving money for improvements.
Knox County will receive $144,000 of the total $49.429 million investment.
Board member Don Divelbiss said the Knox County Airport Authority has not targeted the money for a specific project, but several are upcoming. One project slated for 2024 is replacing the automated weather observation system (AWOS).
“The AWOS we have is fairly old,” Divelbiss said. “I do know it frequently breaks, and you can’t get parts for it anymore.
“It’s a necessary item for safety of flight for visibility and other weather conditions,” he added.
“Pilots can get basic weather information like wind speed, wind direction, temperature, dew point and altimeter setting at and around the airport,” explained airport manager Josh Wynn.
The estimated cost of AWOS replacement is $330,000. An Ohio Department of Transportation grant will help cover the cost.
Also scheduled for 2024 is an aircraft apron design and reconstruct east of the terminal building. Wynn said it will support both larger and smaller aircraft parking.
“This is going to be an expansion from what is currently there,” Divilbiss explained. “The pad supports heavier planes, but the rest of it is asphalt. Because of the weight, you can’t put the larger aircraft on the asphalt; they have to be parked on concrete.”
Flight volume is another reason for expanding the apron.
“We have weekends where we struggle to park everybody, particularly if something is going on at Kenyon,” Divilbiss said. “We have a lot of businesses that fly in, whether they are prospecting for new locations or visiting locations that are here.
“And there’s a lot going on down toward Johnstown that will impact us in the next few years as well,” he added.
Future projects
2025 plans include building an 80-foot-by-80-foot aircraft hangar on the expanded apron. The airport board recently signed a joint use agreement with The Ohio State University that involves educational purposes as well as hangar space.
Another potential 2025 project is new LED runway lighting. Divilbiss said that like the AWOS, the current lighting is fairly old.
The board is in the early stages of both projects. Costs are not yet known.
“The county is going to look different than what it does now,” Divilbiss said. “We want to make sure we’re ready so that we can control it.”
The Federal Aviation Administration awarded the $49.4 million as part of the Airport Infrastructure Grant program. The awards were made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helped write and pass.
“Ohio airports are vital infrastructure supporting travel and commerce in our state,” Brown said in a press release. “These investments will enhance safety and operations at Ohio airports and improve travel for Ohio families and businesses.”
A full list of investments made to Ohio airports can be found HERE.
