Supervisors authorize County Airports grant applications

County Airports now has the ability to pursue Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and State Division of Aeronautics grants for fiscal year 2015-16 without further San Diego County Board of Supervisors approval.

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 June 10, with Greg Cox at a California Coastal Commission meeting, to authorize the director of the county's Department of Public Works or his designee to apply for and accept FAA or state grants for any of the county's eight airports. If any of the grants the county seeks are awarded, the Board of Supervisors will approve the advertisement for bid and award of a construction contract at the appropriate date.

"They gave us broad authority," said County Airports director Pete Drinkwater.

Although County Airports has a plan for airport improvements, the general authority rather than authority for specific proposals will enable applications for any other available funding without the need for a Board of Supervisors hearing.

"The board is trying to be flexible," Drinkwater said. "They gave us the authority in advance in case there are other opportunities for money."

The FAA sets aside entitlement grants each year for qualifying airports. The county's general aviation airports, including Fallbrook Community Airpark, are each entitled to $150,000 annually; much of that money is used for repair and major maintenance. "You still have to have approved usage," Drinkwater said. "It has to be used on approved activities."

The FAA in conjunction with the State Division of Aeronautics also has a discretionary grant program. The FAA's Airport Improvement Program provides grants which fund up to 90 percent of qualified airport improvement projects. Although the grants are competitive, the FAA allocates a certain amount for each class of airports in each FAA region.

The State Division of Aeronautics has a California Aid to Airports Program which offers grants of up to five percent of the FAA award when the state budget allows; since 5 percent of 90 percent is 4.5 percent, the county would only be responsible for 5.5 percent of a project's cost if full federal and state grant money is awarded.

The county's contributions are provided through the Airport Enterprise Fund derived from rent collected from businesses leasing land. From time to time grant funds also become available toward the end of the federal and state fiscal years when airports in the region are unable to complete projects.

County Airports plans to apply for six grants totaling $14.5 million during 2015-16, including $650,000 for the final design work on runway improvements at Fallbrook Community Airpark. Although the grants are competitive, Drinkwater has had preliminary discussions with the FAA on the projects for which County Airports is seeking grants.

The plans for the Fallbrook Community Airpark runway improvements include moving the runway 240 feet south, which will create safety areas at both ends of the runway. The project will also provide the foundation for the airport to comply with current air field design standards.