Texas Border Business
Harlingen, TX – August 5, 2015 – Valley International Airport (VIA) recently submitted and received 4.5 million dollars in grant funds from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program for various airport capital improvement projects. These funds coupled with a 10% match from the Airport will help promote safety and improve on the number airline weather delays and cancelations during inclement weather.
The first project will relocate the perimeter access road used by aviation fueling companies and emergency response vehicles to transition from the east side of the Airport to the commercial carriers on the west side of the Airport. The new route will be clear of all runway movement areas and be located outside of designated runway safety areas.
The second project will update 37 painted airfield pavement signs to highly visible Thermoplastic signs. The upgrades will cut maintenance expenses associated with painted signs and improve visibility to pilot both day and night.
The third project will install a new approach lighting system on Runway 31. This system will provide a lower minimum altitude for aircraft on a northwest approach during low visibility utilizing GPS technology. By installing this system the VIA hopes to minimize weather delays, cancelations and diversions during the winter months.
And last, the VIA will upgrade the edge lights on Runway 17R/35L, the longest runway in South Texas. These lights assist pilots in identifying the runway environment and aligning the aircraft with the runway during landing. Such lighting systems are highly complex in their design and will significantly enhance the safety of aircraft operations, particularly in conditions of reduced visibility.
VIA hopes to have these improvement installed by the early part of 2016. Once operational, VIA will be the only airport in South Texas to offer this northbound modern approach landing light system with GPS approach technology.
