Ti Airport improvements to aid expansion efforts

TICONDEROGA | With two major projects slated for 2026, Ticonderoga Municipal Airport (TMA) is anticipating another exciting growth spurt. Located on Shore-Airport Road, the airport is still unknown to many residents. In Ticonderoga's revitalization effort, the 60-acre facility is expected to be a critical component in the local economy. And as TMA moves upward, infrastructure improvements will be a high priority. "For 2026, we are looking at doing the electrical vault and replacing the lighting on the runway," revealed Tom Thatcher, Airport Committee Chairman (and a licensed aircraft mechanic). "The electricity needs to be updated because it is 30 years old and installed when they built the airport. The vault is also located in a wetland area and needs to be moved. We haven't had failures yet but this stuff is old and needs updating." TMA is following the phases that the Federal Aviation Administration has laid out. "The FAA governs the airport and wants rural airports like ours to grow," Thatcher said. The FFA pays for 95% of the airport, with New York State paying another 2.5% and the Town of Ticonderoga paying the remaining 2.5%. "In addition to moving the vault, we will be increasing the capacity of what the airport can handle," Thatcher said. "The FAA also want us to put a building up that will handle the equipment like lawn mowers and snow removal. They don't want any salt on the runway, major airports use big plows and brushes to sweep their runways." The second project for 2026 will be the building of another hangar "A private individual will start a new hangar this year, and it will mirror the hangars already there with three bays in it," said Thatcher. The electrical upgrades will also ensure that powerlines will not run through the middle of any future structural expansions, which isn't the case as of now. Thatcher is one of seven airport committee members who keeps the propellers in the air by devoting their energies into bringing TMA to the next level and making sure it thrives. "Luckily enough, we have a committee where people are willing to take care of it," noted Thatcher. "If it weren't for the committee, I don't know how the airport would exist. We don't have enough money to keep someone there full time; the committee members all volunteer their time." And that's a good thing, because the airport is being used. Ten planes are kept there regularly throughout the summer, and the Fourth of July holiday and the days surrounding easily see between 20 and 25 planes in Ticonderoga. TMA remains open and active throughout the entire year- even in the coldest months. "A lot of people fly in the wintertime if the weather is good," Thatcher assured. A form of revenue TMA has working in its favor is the selling of aviation gas at a very competitive price, so much so that Thatcher said pilots specifically fly into Ticonderoga to purchase fuel. "The Town makes $1 on each gallon of gas we sell, and last year we sold over 25,000 gallons," shared Thatcher. "In good weather in the summertime, we sell four to five thousand gallons a month." This year, pilots will also be flying into Ticonderoga specifically to enjoy what has become TMA's signature free community event. The airport's third annual Fly-In and Open House is scheduled for Saturday, June 6 this year (with a rain date of Sunday, June 7), which will intentionally coincide with the second Walls Between Waters Mural Festival. Thatcher is hopeful that the airport will be able to capitalize on the families and children who will already be in town to enjoy the festivities on Montcalm Street, and will then make their way to the airport for the second half of their days. Thatcher revealed the event will feature more activities for kids than previous years, and will even introduce Boarding Passes to come aboard and sit in the cockpit of local pilot Bob Salls' Piper Cherokee Six." "They can do it all," Thatcher said. "They can see the murals, then come see us just a mile away."

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Ti Airport improvements to aid expansion efforts

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