Imperial airport receives funds to add taxiway
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021, has generated results for local infrastructure, awarding grants to airports in North Platte, Beatrice and Imperial.
The Imperial Airport Authority has been awarded a grant in the amount of $381,000, which will be used to add a 1,400-foot taxiway. Currently, planes that land at the Imperial Municipal Airport must back-taxi. This means that after landing, planes must turn around and use the runway to head back to the terminal. This is mainly a safety issue. It also means that any other aircraft must wait to land until the plane on the ground has finished going back up the runway. This can cause dangerous miscommunication issues. In general, it is important for airports to have a separate area for planes to taxi back to the terminal after landing.
Josh Fries, Chair of the Airport Authority Board, says that grants like these are vital to maintain and improve Imperial’s airport. The goal is always to create a safer and better airport. Most improvements are planned years in advance and are completed as they are scheduled. The airport typically receives some sort of grant each year but saves the funds until they have enough to complete the next project on the list. This process is typical of most airports in Nebraska and is overseen by both State and Federal regulations. Fries says that this taxiway is an important step to enhance the Imperial Municipal Airport. The airport sees a lot of business throughout the year and is an economic boon to the area.
According to a study done by the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Imperial Municipal Airport has a total economic impact of $8,713,000 per year. This number is based on both direct and indirect revenue.
Besides just agriculture uses, the airport also sees a lot of other use. Another major and important use of Imperial Airport is for medical reasons. Though not as common as it has been in the past, Flight for Life still uses the Imperial Airport when necessary. Many doctors fly into Imperial using the airport. Some of these doctors are specialists that Chase County Community Hospital would have a hard time employing if not for the airport. Imperial Municipal Airport is also often used as a fueling stop for many private plane owners.
This new taxiway is just one project on the list to improve the safety and profitability of the Imperial Municipal Airport and to ensure that it is around for years to come.