FAA Selects Wurtsmith-Oscada Airport, Tipton Airport, Okaloosa Regional Airport and Laredo International Airport for the Military Airport Program

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) today selected four airports to
participate in the Military Airport Program (MAP). Those airports
are: Wurtsmith-Oscoda Airport, Oscoda, Mich.; Tipton Airport,
Odenton, Md.; Okaloosa Regional Airport, Okaloosa County, Fla.;
and Laredo International Airport, Laredo, Texas.

MAP, a part of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), provides
financial assistance to the civilian sponsor of military airfields that
are being converted to civilian or joint-use airfields or those that
already have been converted. The selections were made under
authority granted in the Wendell H. Ford Aviation and Investment
Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) which increased the
total number of airports in the MAP from 12 to 15, including one
general aviation airport authorized to receive MAP funding.

"Converting military airfields to civilian use enhances airport
system capacity and reduces flight delays," said Woodie
Woodward, acting associate administrator for airports.

The program increases airport capacity by providing the funding to
help develop civilian airports and joint-use airports at former
military airfields in or near major cities. The MAP also allows the
designation of one general aviation airport.

MAP funds may be used for projects that are not generally
included in the AIP, which build or rehabilitate parking lots, fuel
farms, hangars, utility systems, roads and cargo buildings.

Wurtsmith-Oscoda, the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, is the
first general aviation airport selected for the program. In addition
to serving general aviation, it is a major maintenance facility for
large aircraft that can be serviced in the former Air Force hangars.
Wurtsmith is designated to receive MAP funds for two years.
-more-

Tipton Airport, the former Tipton Army Airfield, is a reliever airport
in Maryland that has a 3,000-foot paved runway. Tipton will
participate in the program for five years.

Okaloosa Regional Airport, the commercial service airport serving
the Valparaiso area of the Florida Panhandle, is a joint-use facility
with Eglin Air Force Base. Okaloosa Regional is designated for
three years.

Laredo International Airport, a one-year redesignation to the
program, serves the Laredo area of south Texas and is a major
cargo gateway to Latin America. Laredo will receive funds for one
year.

The following airports also are part of MAP: Alexandria
International Airport, Alexandria, La.; Rickenbacker Airport,
Columbus, Ohio; Pease International Tradeport, Portsmouth, N.H.;
Myrtle Beach Airport, Myrtle Beach S.C.; Cecil Field, Jacksonville,
Fla.; Sawyer Airport, Marquette County, Mich.; Chippewa County
Airport, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.; Southern California International
Airport, Victorville, Calif.; Mather Airport, Sacramento, Calif.;
March Inland Port, Riverside, Calif.; and Gray Army Airfield, Fort
Hood, Texas.

In fiscal year 2002, FAA may designate up to five airports to
participate in the program. For information concerning
participation in the MAP, airport sponsors should contact their
respective FAA airport divisions for program coordination.