The Cape Fear Regional Airport in Oak Island will get a brand-new taxiway thanks to a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.
WHQR’s Michelle Bliss reports the FAA awarded the North Carolina Division of Aviation almost $23-million last September to implement capital improvement projects beginning this year.
$3.5 million will go to the airport to construct a taxiway parallel to the recently extended runway. Currently there is no taxiway and the runway is serving both purposes.
North Carolina Division of Aviation Director Richard Walls says this particular project is one of the division’s highest priorities.
“They’re seeing continued growth in traffic, they’re seeing continued growth in larger airplanes which is really facilitating or mandating why we want to put a better taxiway system in there.”
The airport is a general aviation facility, meaning there’s no commercial aircraft, but it is used for corporate jets, pilot training, military use as well as tourism purposes.
“For as many operations as Cape Fear’s doing, they really, really need a parallel taxiway. It’s going to significantly enhance safety and allow them to provide much service to the aircraft using the airport.”
The airport has an approximate $26 million a year impact on North Carolina, supporting more than 260 jobs. While there isn’t a definite timeline, Walls says construction should be finished by the end of next year.