Arnold Palmer Regional Airport among 23 receiving grants from state for upgrades

Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Westmoreland County has been awarded a $375,000 state grant that will be used to purchase de-icing equipment, one of 23 airports across the state that will be receiving grants to make safety upgrades or to expand operations.

The grants, totaling $8.8 million, include $5.4 million from the Aviation Transportation Assistance Program, and nearly $3.6 million in local matching funds. The grants will be administered by PennDOT’s Bureau of Aviation.

Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County airport, said Arnold Palmer Regional now has one spray truck and one recovery vehicle to de-ice all airplanes before takeoff in the winter. With the grant from the state, the airport plans to add an additional spray truck and recovery vehicle to its operation.

“We’re happy to have it and we appreciate the help from the state,” Mr. Monzo said.

Here is a list of other airports and the grants that they received:

Allegheny County: Allegheny County Airport will receive $150,000 to rehabilitate airport buildings.

Beaver County: Zelienople Municipal Airport will receive $375,000 to construct a fueling facility.

Bucks County: 

• Doylestown Airport will receive $2.3 million to acquire property adjacent to the airport to allow for future expansion of the airport’s terminal area, including a new terminal building with parking, and the northwest T-hangar complex.

• Pennridge Airport will receive $560,750 to reconstruct an apron, design the reconstruction of the taxiway and to study obstructions to aircraft approaching the airport.

• Quakertown Airport will receive $150,000 to demolish a 70-year-old equipment storage building and construct a new one.

Butler County: Butler Farm Show Airport will receive $135,000 to improve airport drainage, rehabilitate a taxiway and install an access gate and fencing.

Cambria County: John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport will receive $150,000 to complete repairs to existing hangars.

Centre County: University Park Airport will receive $713,750 to acquire airport equipment to maintain and operate the airfield and to continue rehabilitating the general aviation apron to bring it into compliance with federal standards.

Columbia County: Bloomsburg Municipal Airport will receive $200,000 for the final construction phase of the terminal building.

Crawford County: Port Meadville Airport will receive $37,500 to design the future rehabilitation of its fuel farm.

Lancaster County: Lancaster Airport will receive $200,000 to construct three new box hangars to accommodate newer privately owned aircraft based at the airport.

Lawrence County: New Castle Municipal Airport will receive $250,000 to complete expansion of the existing hangar and enhance security by replacing existing fencing and installing new fencing, gates, cameras and camera equipment.

Lebanon County: Deck Airport will receive $90,000 to install a new airport weather observation system that reports weather conditions to pilots.

Luzerne County: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport will receive $550,000 to rehabilitate the existing parking garage.

McKean County: Bradford Regional Airport will receive $150,000 to replace the existing hangar door and track foundation system.

Mercer County: Greenville Municipal Airport will receive $10,800 to prepare airport hazard zoning ordinances that local municipalities can enact.

Montgomery County: Wings Field will receive $124,995 to remove obstructions.

Philadelphia: Penns Landing-Pier 36 Heliport will receive $328,013 to rehabilitate the seawall below the heliport.

Venango County: Venango Regional Airport will receive $150,000 to acquire airport equipment to replace and augment existing that helps maintain and operate the airport.

Washington County: Washington County Airport will receive $1 million to purchase an existing hangar and office, allowing the county to continue providing essential hangar space and aviation-related office space.

Wyoming County: Skyhaven Airport will receive $225,000 to construct a taxiway and rehabilitate hangar ramps.

York County: York Airport will receive $646,875 to rehabilitate the runway.

Conjoined twins recovering after 'water emergency'

Conjoined twins rescued from the ocean at Playalinda Beach on Sunday continue to recover today as family members ask for privacy.

The 12-year-old twins were airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando on Sunday evening after what Brevard County Fire Chief Mark Schollmeyer called a "water emergency."

Brevard County Rescue officials reported that the pair, visiting the area from out of state, were in the water playing when one of them suffered an unexplained injury to the neck area.

The incident occurred on Kennedy Space Center property at Playalinda Beach. There are no lifeguards at the federally-protected beach

Schollmeyer, on Twitter, said due to the physical nature of the conjoinment, there was concern the helicopter wouldn't be able to transport them.

The paramedics only learned they were were conjoined when they arrived at the beach, officials reported. The family "has requested privacy," said a spokesman for Arnold Palmer Hospital, where the twins were taken for treatment.