University Park Airport officials hope to be ready next year to begin construction of a $7 million on-site air-traffic control tower and instrument landing system.
But they don't know yet if the money will be there to pay for it.
And Bellefonte Airport officials are worried that adding the tower will increase traffic at University Park Airport -- and hurt business at the Bellefonte facility.
"The tower can negatively impact us," said Jeff Elnitski, whose family has owned and operated the Bellefonte Airport for 19 years. "We are not in their thoughts. We want to be in their thoughts."
University Park Airport is the busiest airport in the nation without an on-site site air-traffic control tower. More than 270,000 passengers passed through the airport in 2004 with 40 daily commercial flights and more general-aviation flights.
Aircraft approaches and departures are now directed by controllers in New York.
Bryan Rodgers, the airport's director, said he's looking to the federal government to pay for the tower.
U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pleasantville, says he knows the tower is crucial to the growth of the airport and the safety of passengers.
Centre Daily Times
University Park Airport (KUNV)
But they don't know yet if the money will be there to pay for it.
And Bellefonte Airport officials are worried that adding the tower will increase traffic at University Park Airport -- and hurt business at the Bellefonte facility.
"The tower can negatively impact us," said Jeff Elnitski, whose family has owned and operated the Bellefonte Airport for 19 years. "We are not in their thoughts. We want to be in their thoughts."
University Park Airport is the busiest airport in the nation without an on-site site air-traffic control tower. More than 270,000 passengers passed through the airport in 2004 with 40 daily commercial flights and more general-aviation flights.
Aircraft approaches and departures are now directed by controllers in New York.
Bryan Rodgers, the airport's director, said he's looking to the federal government to pay for the tower.
U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pleasantville, says he knows the tower is crucial to the growth of the airport and the safety of passengers.
Centre Daily Times
University Park Airport (KUNV)
