The Allegheny County Airport Authority will be adding a new power generating system at the airport in West Mifflin with the help of a $1.1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Airport Authority spokesperson JoAnn Jenny says about $400,000 will be used for the project.
“In the event of a power outage we will still have emergency backup to operate the terminal, the FAA tower at Allegheny County Airport, and runway lighting will still stay lit,” said Jenny
The remainder of the grant will be used to update lighting in the facility’s parking lot. The Authority will have to cover about 25 percent of the cost of the projects from its capital budget.
The airport has become a regional asset according to Jenny who said it is the only general aviation facility in the region that operates 24 hours a day. “It has that old art deco charm with the terminal building but actually there is a lot of business being conducted out there in West Mifflin,” said Jenny.
Two Fixed Based Operators have located at the county airport to serve corporate jet fleets and rent jets on a per-use basis.
18 other airports in the commonwealth received a combined $2.6 million in funding that comes from the state's jet fuel tax.
