TF airport receives federal funding

As part of a $8.2 billion federal investment into airport infrastructure, numerous airports across the country and Montana are receiving tax dollars to improve various parts of their facilities. Thompson Falls was one such small airport and received $733,276 from the federal government to upgrade its grounds.

“If the tax money has to go somewhere, it might as well be here,” says Sanders County Commissioner Tony Cox, who has been working with the airport and other organizations to use the funds given by the government to the airport.

Last year the airport received an additional $147,136 from the state and plans to use both collections of funds to reconstruct the runway and the apron as well as to enhance the runway lighting and signage at the Thompson Falls Airport.

The money will also go to resurface the pavement in other parts of the airport and to install what is called a runway vertical/visual guidance system. This system utilizes a scheme of lights to help aircraft land, especially when visibility is low. Finally, the funds will help reconstruct the taxiways at the Thompson Falls Airport.

According to Cox, much of the money comes from the Federal Aviation Administration. The funds come from taxes paid by anyone who goes to a larger airport or flies on passenger planes.