ATLANTA – Federally allocated tax dollars are helping fund a number of safety projects around the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport area, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The more than $9 million in safety upgrades are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Nationally, federal officials have allocated $1.3 billion for various airport improvement and air traffic control projects as part of the ARRA.
“Construction workers and engineers are helping to modernize and repair our nation’s commercial and general aviation airports,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.
The Atlanta area funding includes $5 million for a new approach lighting system for Runway 27L at the Atlanta airport. The system provides visual information to pilots who approach the runway in bad weather.
“Landing is one of the most critical phases of flight,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. “This approach lighting system will give pilots an extra layer of safety.”
In addition, the federal money includes $1.5 million for a backup generator for Hartsfield-Jackson’s traffic control tower and $2.6 million for a power distribution system for the National Network Control Center (NNCC) in Hampton. The NNCC processes pilot flight plans.