Airport Receives Grant from FAA Money Will Rehab Runway, Help Keep Wildlife Away from Planes
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PAGE 4C FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 | The Sun | www.yoursun.com C Airport receives grant from FAA Money will rehab runway, help keep wildlife away from planes By LIZ HARDAWAY This project is anticipated to cost Miller said. STAFF WRITER This project is anticipated $6.2 million, with $2.9 million coming from to cost $6.2 million, with The average airbus, with $2.9 million coming from people, gas and luggage, FAA grants and $3.3 million coming from FAA grants and $3.3 million weighs 183,000 pounds. coming from passenger Allegiant’s planes departed passenger facility charges. facility charges. from and landed on one The airport anticipates of Punta Gorda Airport’s to start construction for (PGD) runways more 5,300 Kaley Miller said, especially of Transportation grants and both projects in November times last year, according to thanking project manager funds from accrued passenger and complete the project by their airline landing reports, Ron Ridenour. “He’s been facility charges. November 2020. totaling over 771 million working hard on it.” The grant funds will also The airport received four pounds. With these funds, the go toward the first phase of construction bids for the Now, in the first step of southern runway will be a wetland mitigation project, project in late May and many, the airport has secured extended 593 feet and its where 14 of 57 anticipated anticipates awarding the bid funding to rehabilitate one of existing pavement will be acres of existing wetlands to the second low bidder, the its runways. restored. The project also within the airport operations June project update states. The Federal Aviation includes realigning Woodlawn area will be filled. These Miller expects the airport Administration awarded Drive to be outside the limits wetlands have the potential to receive the formal grant $6.4 million to PGD of the new runway protection to attract hazardous wildlife, offer document by the end Wednesday for wetland zone on the southern end of according to the airport’s 2016 of August. Funds will be mitigation and rehabilitating the runway once extended, Wildlife Hazard Management received by the airport as runway 15-33. the project details state. Plan. reimbursement for the project “We’re thankful to our great The runway rehabilitation Though preventing bird charges as they are incurred. project management team will cost an estimated strikes are the main concern, for putting this grant into $12 million, funded by FAA “once in awhile we get an Email: Liz.Hardaway@ motion,” PGD spokesperson grants, Florida Department alligator on the runway,” yoursun.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 | YOURSUN.COM | SECTION C Tenant sues airport after receiving contaminated fuel Company says losses are in the millions By LIZ HARDAWAY STAFF WRITER PUNTA GORDA — After receiving contaminated jet fuel, an air ambulance company is taking steps to sue the airport for losses estimated in the millions. Air Trek, an air ambulance company, submitted a “notice of intent to pursue claim” to the Charlotte County Airport Authority on July 24 regard- ing monetary damages. The damages occurred May 9 when two of the company’s jet fuel systems were con- taminated with diesel fuel exhaust fluid while being fueled at the Punta Gorda Airport, the Sun previously reported. Each jet had patients in critical condition, family and crew onboard; a total of 13 people. Both aircraft experi- enced engine failure about two hours into their flights, causing one to land without a working engine. There were no injuries SUN PHOTO BY JERRY BEARD from either landing. After two and a half An “Air Ambulance “ installation is seen inside a Cessna “Citation I” airplane, owned by Air months, “both aircraft re- Trek Inc., at Punta Gorda Airport. Two similar planes in the company’s fleet were damaged by main inoperable and beyond contaminated fuel. economic repair,” stated Dana Carr, the company’s Punta Gorda Airport receives $6.2 million grant from FAA, SEE PAGE, 4C SEE AIRPORT, 4C 2019_08_02_otc_cs_01.pdf 1 02-Aug-19 02:05:27 PAGE 4C FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 | The Sun | www.yoursun.com C AIRPORT FROM PAGE 1C vice president and director of operations. The insurance company, Starr Adjustment Services, has made an offer, but it was “less than 50% of what it should be,” Carr said, including material losses and out-of-pocket expenses. Carr estimates the company is losing $7,500 daily due to these aircraft losses. “This is home,” Carr said. “That’s what hurts the most, the financial damage but also the fact that this is our home and we’re being less than SUN PHOTO BY JERRY BEARD treated properly by our home to get whole again as they prom- Air Trek Vice President and ised us.” Director of Operations Dana AirTrek has been a tenant of Carr. PGD for 41 years, Carr said. those policies. The employee “Our management values Air has since been let go, according Trek as a longstanding tenant to Miller. and understands this is a diffi- Wayne Carr said the employ- cult situation for all involved,” ee’s actions were similar to said PGD spokesperson Kaley culpable negligence. Miller. “Unfortunately, the “They know if these two initial offer made by our fluids get combined, it could insurance company was not cause an airplane to come out PHOTO FROM PGD satisfactory to AirTrek.” of the sky,” he said. “The Airport Authority has “Quite frankly we’re lucky Two Airtrek air ambulance jets received a contaminated fuel mix from the Punta Gorda Airport been good to us, and I have we’re talking about this,” said (PGD) in early May. Last week, the company sent a notice to pursue a claim to the Charlotte no complaints,” said AirTrek the company’s CFO Aaron County Airport Authority for the damages that occurred. President Wayne Carr, who is Carr. also its chief pilot. “But the Dana Carr said. aircraft and get it certified “I have every faith that the “We could be going to 13 problem is is the insurance Each plane is worth an by the FAA for aero-medical Charlotte County Punta Gorda funerals very quickly,” Wayne company that they have just estimated $600,000, and the standards. Airport has learned from this Carr added. will not pay us adequate door cost an additional $150,000, The damaged jets remain mistake,” Dana Carr said. The company owned eight compensation for the damage Dana Carr said. outside of Florida: one in “They’ve made additional total aircraft, four specifically that’s been done here.” “We get multiple calls a week Savannah, Ga. and the other in safeguards to ensure that it used as air ambulances. The When DEF is added to jet for bariatric needs that we can’t Louisville, Ky., Carr said. won’t happen ... I think they two damaged aircraft were fuel, it can trigger reactions fulfill,” Aaron Carr said. Dana and Wayne Carr’s are very sincere in wanting to some of the best in their medi- that can form crystals, which “It’s a void in the aero-med- brother, Darol Carr, serves as make us whole again. However, cal fleet, Wayne Carr said. They can plug fuel filters and damage ical community to not be able the Airport Authority’s attor- I also don’t think that they’re had a better range, allowing the engine components. to fulfill these patients,” Dana ney. The authority has retained putting enough influence on the plane to go farther, and more The airport does have Carr said. a separate attorney to serve as insurance company to get this seating. policies to prevent these fuel Even if AirTrek does receive independent counsel to work resolved.” One damaged aircraft even contaminations, however, Carr the compensation it desires, with their insurance company. had a larger door for bariatric Email: Liz.Hardaway@ said the employee, who had it would take more than two “We trust that our insurance patients, the only plane in the yoursun.com been with the airport for five months to get everything back company and Air Trek will be Southeast United States that years, had neglected to follow to working order, Wayne Carr able to amicably resolve this could provide that service, said, in order to get another matter,” Miller stated. Three Southwest Florida airports are about to make some big improvements The Punta Gorda Airport, Labelle Municipal Airport, and Naples Airport will split up $7 million. Friday, August 2nd 2019, 9:34 AM EDT by Dave Elias Three airports in Southwest Florida will be making some big improvements using millions of dollars in federal grant money. Ten airports nationwide will split about $22 million handed out by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Punta Gorda Airport, Labelle Municipal Airport, and Naples Airport will split up $7 million. Most of the money, $6.4 million, is being given to the Punta Gorda Airport. A good chunk of that money will be used to repave the runway. 1,600,000 passengers fly into the Punta Gorda Airport each year. Crews at the airport said passengers will eventually notice smoother landings and take-offs. The airport will also spend some of the money on limiting wildlife trying to build a home near the airport. “Airports and wildlife don’t really mix," said Kayle Miller with the Punta Gorda Airport. "What that means is by reducing the amount of wetlands on site, there are less birds and less chance for bird strikes." The Labelle Municipal Airport will receive $113,000 to repave it’s 5,200-foot lighted runway. The Naples Airport is getting $600,000. That money will be used for a noise study.