By Adam Pincus
To bring the East Elmhurst airport up to date, the Federal Aviation Administration has secured $40 million for a project to replace the aging structure, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.”The best use for this money is investing in the safety and efficiency of an airport that serves 26 million passengers each year,” he said in a statement late last month. “It's time that New York air travelers arrive and depart as scheduled and without risk. We cannot wait another 15 years.”As the number of air travelers increases from a slump caused by the Sept. 11 attacks and a slow economy, local airports are struggling to meet the growing demand of passengers who are returning once again to flight.The airport has been failing many of its passengers, with flights arriving on time only 62 percent of the time and departing promptly just 77 percent of the time, Schumer said, citing monthly data from November.Many upgrades are not possible in the old tower, which has sprung leaks from the installation and removal of equipment from the roof over the years. Beginning about two years ago, water began to fall on the controllers and sensitive equipment, interrupting operations and endangering the passengers, officials said.The airport even resorted to installing tarps with garden hoses on the roof above the workers' heads to protect operations, he said.There were several improvements planned with the new tower, including a system called the Category II Instrument Approach that assists aircraft landings during poor visibility.The FAA set the tower project into an “implementation” phase, and will be allotted as much funding as needed, which could top the $40 million, Schumer said.A significant portion of the funding would come from the federal Aviation Trust Fund, created to support tower construction nationwide, he said. Many of those projects were never approved, however, and money remains available for LaGuardia, he said.The Port Authority, which operates regional transportation facilities including LaGuardia Airport, was pleased by the investment.”Anything that enhances safety we welcome with open arms,” a spokesman said.Reach reporter Adam Pincus by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
