The Brewton Municipal Airport has been awarded nearly $150,000 in federal grant funds to repair its drainage system and the design work on a new taxiway.
Earl Lambert, Brewton Airport manager, said the $149,850 will fund the design and construction of repairs to several drainage structures within the infield between Runways 6/24 and 12/30. The drainage improvements are necessary to adequately handle stormwater runoff.
“That drainage system is ancient, but was in much better shape than we actually thought,” Lambert said. “We’re very appreciative for this funding. It will be put to good use.”
Lambert said the money will also fund the design phase to construct a parallel taxiway to eliminate the need for aircraft to back-taxi on Runway 30.
“That’s the leg of runway toward Thomas Road,” he said of the site. “This is one of several taxiway extension projects we hope to do in the future and will allow easier access to the departing end of runway for aircrafts for takeoff. Right now, planes have to do a 360-spin around. When we get a corporate jet, it’s difficult to turn around. “
Lambert said the Federal Aviation Administration grant is an annual appropriation for the airport.
“We have a very unusual situation as a rural airport in that we are self-supporting,” he said. “The FAA money we get each year allows us to do projects, and our touch-and-go contract with the U.S. Navy and our hangar contracts provide the funds to operate the airport.
“We don’t operate under the city’s general fund – which is different than many rural airports,” he said. “About 90 percent of those must be supported by a general fund, but not us. That’s quite an accomplishment.”