Governor Doyle approves $146,352 for projects at Rice Lake Regional Airport

November 24, 2008

Governor Jim Doyle has approved $142,352 for two projects at the Rice Lake Regional Airport. The Governor's action releases $4,800 in state funds to install a ground communication outlet (GCO) at the airport, and the City of Rice Lake is contributing $1,200 to the project.

In a second project, three public use hangars will be constructed at the airport. The City of Rice Lake is contributing $36,088 to complete the work, and the Federal Aviation Administration is providing $104,264.

According to Craig Butler, airport project manager with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the GCO project will provide pilot communication from the aircraft with FAA's instrument flight controllers immediately before takeoff or after landing. This greatly limits the likelihood that poor weather or memory will break the communication needed between air and ground that keeps airspace safe and free of unnecessary searches for "lost en route" pilots.

The hangar project will provide the airport with an opportunity to generate more revenue to cover daily costs of operation.

The GCO is scheduled to be installed in the fall 2008. The hangar project is expected to be completed by March 2009.

Facilities at the Rice Lake Regional Airport include a 6,700 primary runway and a 3,500-foot crosswind runway. The airport accommodates 28,000 aircraft take-offs and landings each year.

For more information, contact:
Craig Butler, WisDOT Airport Project Manager
(608) 266-2729, craig.butler@wisconsin.gov