Archive: News

At a special session conducted in conjunction with an expanded budget committee review meeting, Legislators by unanimous vote authorized acceptance of a $100,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant to conduct a wildlife hazard assessment at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport.  (Legislators Pam Mackesey and Nathan Shinagawa were excused.)

The grant will support a year-long study, mandated by the FAA, of animal and bird activity at the airport, which will produce a comprehensive report and recommendations on how to mitigate any hazards.  An incident on July 25 involving a collision between an aircraft and wildlife on the runway after the aircraft had landed automatically triggered the FAA requirement that the wildlife hazard assessment be conducted.

The FAA grant supports 95% of the study cost, with the State Department of Transportation and the airport each responsible for 2.5%, just over $2,600.  The Legislature must still award a contract to perform the study, once proposals from prospective consultants are received and reviewed.

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