Airpark application for master plan update, environmental assessment approved

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 April 18 to authorize the application for six Federal Aviation Administration grants, including a grant of $157,895 for the master plan update and environmental assessment at Fallbrook Community Airpark.

The supervisors also authorized acceptance of the grants if offered and also amended the Fiscal Year 2006-07 Airport Enterprise Fund spending plan to include expenditures on the airpark master plan update and environmental review work. Although the grants have not yet been awarded, oral discussions between County Airports staff and the Federal Aviation Administration often indicate the success of a grant application.

Airports Director Pete Drinkwater noted that the master plan would be brought to the Board of Supervisors for approval once the remaining environmental work has been completed.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program provides grant funding of up to 95 percent of the cost of a qualified airport project. Although the airport operator is responsible for the remaining five percent, the California Division of Aeronautics has an Aid to Airports program which offers a matching grant of up to 2.5 percent of the FAA’s amount. The county funds its share of airport projects through the Airport Enterprise Fund, which is derived from rent of property on airport land.