Airport receives financial help

A view of the control tower at Columbus Municipal Airport in Columbus, Ind., pictured Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019. Mike Wolanin | The Republic

The Columbus Municipal Airport is getting some help from Washington after suffering a financial hit like many businesses and organizations from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The facility will receive $69,000 to provide critical support in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, according to the office of Sixth District Congressman Greg Pence, R-Ind.

It’s part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) package approved March 27 by Congress, which provides $10 billion for airport improvements across the country, Pence said.

On Tuesday, after just learning that the airport would receive the money, airport director Brian Payne says he’s not sure exactly how the money will be spent at this time.

After the airport enjoyed what Payne called “great business” during the first two months of this year, traffic began to drop sharply in March, he said.

When compared to the same period last year, the amount of aircraft traffic is down by 80%, Payne said. The airport only had 800 operations during the first half of this month, compared to 4,000 operations for the entire month of April in 2019.

“Our airports are an integral part of our economy and need economic support during this unprecedented time in our nation,” Pence said in the release. “Providing this funding will allow critical safety and capacity projects to continue as planned, regardless of the current financial circumstances under stress from the pandemic.”

The lower volume of aviation traffic has allowed the airport to start a project that is funded by a nearly $1 million federal grant received several months ago, Payne said. The money will be used to patch, mill and overlay up to three taxiways, he said.

This project has been delayed because it will require the airport to shut down the main runway, the airport director said. But since traffic is so light, this is likely the best time to get the work done, Payne said.

Of the nine airport grants awarded within the Sixth Congressional District, only the Columbus and Muncie facilities received $69,000. All other airports in the region, including those in Greensburg, North Vernon and Shelbyville, will receive $30,000 through the program administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation.