Willits Airport To Receive Federal Support

Washington DC-The House of Representatives has approved federal support for a Willits airport project, announced Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa).

Considered yesterday on the House floor, The Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century reauthorized use of the aviation trust fund, which is funded by ticket and aviation fuel taxes. The trust fund is used exclusively to improve airports and the national air traffic management system. The measure was approved on a vote of 319-101.

Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to give priority consideration to airport and aviation improvement projects, including a request for $135,000 for the City of Willits' airport (Ells Field) improvement project.

The planned improvements include:
1) a slurry seal of the runway and taxi way,
2) construction of an east-west taxi way from the existing taxi way to the north end where hangars are located,
3) construction of a taxi apron on the west side of the west hangars to allow fire access and greater flexibility in moving aircraft, and
4) construction of a new turn around and run-up area at the south end of the runway.

"The directive to the FAA will aid residents of Willits by making improvements at Ells Field as part of a larger plan to bring new manufacturing and light industrial jobs to the region," Thompson said.

The bill also includes an amendment similar to one Thompson authored last year to prohibit the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from replacing human weather observers with automated observation stations. Under the amendment, the Secretary of Transportation must provide a report to Congress that the automated weather system provides consistent reporting of changing meteorological conditions before any human weather observer can be removed.

The bill now moves to the White House for the President's approval.