Schumer, Gillibrand, Bishop Announce Over $5 Million in Federal Funding For Brookhaven Calabro Airport and Long Island Macarthur Airport

Press Release

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Congressman Tim Bishop today announced $1,487,534 million in Federal Aviation Administration funding for Brookhaven Calabro Airport and nearly $3.6 million in funding for Long Island MacArthur Airport. The Department of Transportation funding will provide for the rehabilitation of the taxiway lighting system for taxiways, installation of new runway visual guidance system and rotating beacon at Brookhaven Calabro Airport. The federal funds will also help with the construction phase of the western section of the taxiway at MacArthur Airport to facilitate aircraft traffic and improve operational efficiency.

"With this vital funding, Brookhaven and MacArthur airport can make important upgrades that will ultimately improve efficiency," said Senator Schumer. "These airports are economic engines for the Long Island region and these funds will help make sure they continue running strong."

"This is an important investment for Long Island," said Senator Gillibrand. "These federal dollars will help provide critical infrastructure upgrades at Brookhaven Calabro Airport as well as Long Island MacArthur Airport, providing better, safer service for travelers and business, and strengthening the local economy."

"This grant funding will allow critical work to take place at two important local airports," said Congressman Bishop. "It represents an extension of our efforts to upgrade our regional transportation hubs and keep the jobs associated with them here in our communities. I would like to thank the FAA for its continued commitment to Long Island."

The current taxiway lighting system at Brookhaven Calabro airport has reached the end of its useful life and requires rehabilitation to enhance safe airfield operations during low visibility conditions. The $1,125,315 in federal funding will provide for the rehabilitation of the taxiway lighting system for taxiways A, M, P, and Q. Additionally, $212,220 in funding will go towards installing a new runway vertical/visual guidance system, Precision Approach Pathway Indicator, which will make the airport more accessible to pilots by providing improved approaches to the runway ends. And nearly $150,000 will go towards replacing the airport's rotating beacon.

Brookhaven Calabro Airport is maintained by the Town of Brookhaven's Division of General Aviation and is located in Shirley, New York. The municipal airport facility handles more than 135,000 annual aircraft operations.

"I want to thank Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Tim Bishop for securing this $1.5 million grant to make important safety improvements at Calabro Airport," said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine.

The $3,590,361 in federal funding for Long Island MacArthur Airport will go towards constructing the western section of Taxiway S to improve operational efficiency. This project includes milling, excavation, and paving.

The Town of Islip owns and operates Long Island MacArthur Airport, located in Ronkonkoma, 50 miles outside New York City. More than 5,000 people fly MacArthur Airport each day, making it one of the top 90 airports in the United States.

"This much needed funding to improve our taxiways S and W will bring the airport into safety compliance and is another positive project for the Long Island MacArthur airport as a whole," said Islip Town councilman John Cochrane Jr. "The Town of Islip Town Board cannot thank Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer and the Federal Aviation Administration enough, for all the hard work and dedication to our Long Island MacArthur."