A recent investment from the Federal Aviation Administration, will soon provide the Geauga County Airport with a compliance-based upgrade. Specifically, airport Manager Richard Blamer noted the $3,174,575, grant will fund the final phase and installation of lighting along the new 3,040-foot paved Taxiway A being constructed to bring the facility into conformity with current operational standards. “This is a major project for improving the airport,” he said. “Currently, if airplane pilots need to take off from the other end of the field, they ‘back taxi’ on the runway, or drive opposite traffic, and another airplane cannot land while this is taking place….they would go around and try again. “Having the parallel taxiway means that aircraft can traverse to the opposite end of the field on a pathway expressly for that purpose, and not on the landing surface,” Blamer added. “In the meantime, there is still a lot of planning work and logistics involved as we will have to close the runway for portions of construction.” The project is set to begin in the spring and is expected to take approximately 120 days. Blamer said that additional projects, which will be separately funded, are also in the planning stages. “We are looking to build additional hangars, as our wait list is very long,” he added, noting final plan review is underway. “We will put that (project) out for bids in the very near future. “And we recently completed rebuilding one of our community box hangars, adding improvements like insulation, heat, a roof and a new door,” Blamer said. “This is the facility that houses AirMed/UH’s helicopter and workshop, the service that transports critically ill and injured patients.” He added that “all (of) the projects management and administrative officials explore serve to increase the economic impact of the airport to the benefit of all in the community.”