Aiken Regional Airport Undergoes Significant Upgrades
Aiken Regional Airport is completing $7.7 million in improvements to its primary runway. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 5,500-foot primary runway is scheduled for Oct. 9. The Federal Aviation Administration covered 95% of the cost for these primary runway enhancements, with the state and city sharing the remaining 5%.
Aiken City Council authorized planning grants on Sept. 28 to further update the airport’s infrastructure. Airport Manager Christopher McCauley stated on Sept. 30 that these improvements represent a significant opportunity to maintain the airport’s existing infrastructure. The airport’s 3,800-foot-long secondary runway was crucial in keeping operations running during the months-long construction of the primary runway.
Future plans include updating the Airport Layout Plan, funded by a $316,352 FAA grant, supplemented by $8,325 contributions from both the city and the S.C. Aeronautics Commission. Additionally, the design for improvements to the secondary runway will be financed by $257,929 from the S.C. Aeronautics Commission and $28,659 from the city. McCauley anticipates the secondary runway will also be resurfaced in concrete.
Air traffic at Aiken Regional Airport experiences a tenfold increase during the Masters Tournament.
