Aviation

Maintaining Service and Improving Facilities

Throughout his Senate career, and from his position on the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, Rockefeller has been working continually with West Virginia airport managers and local officials to protect existing service from any proposal cuts and to insist that airlines considers the state for service expansions and improvements. That's why he's fought so hard for adequate funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) - a federal grant program that helps airports make safety and capacity improvements.

Through his leadership, guaranteed funding for West Virginia airports has doubled to $21 million a year. Primary airports (Lewisburg, Clarksburg, Huntington, Parkersburg, Charleston and Morgantown), use funds to help expand runways, build parking facilities, expand and modernize passenger terminals, and make safety improvements. Additionally, Rockefeller has worked with local airport managers to secure tens of millions of additional AIP funding through merit-based grants.

For smaller general aviation airports, Rockefeller initiated a program that allows small communities to keep an air traffic control tower by contributing to the costs of operating the tower.