Leading Idaho grant funds snow-removal equipment at Orofino Municipal Airport – Local News 8

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Gov. Brad Little’s Main Idaho initiative lately helped fund $75,000 in new snow-removal tools for the Orofino Municipal Airport in north-central Idaho. The newly bought truck is about up for sanding, deicing and plowing. 

Orofino averages 21.4 inches of snow every winter season. The airport is situated a couple of mile northwest of city, on the south aspect of the Clearwater River. It’s situated in a steep canyon, with high-terrain approaches each north and south of the airfield.

“This new truck will make a huge effect,” mentioned Ryan Smathers, Orofino Metropolis Administrator. “The airport has been mainly out of service throughout main snow occasions, and it will assist us reply in a well timed method.”

“We needed to rush to get the runway cleared with a front-end loader for Life Flight to land in winters previous. “Having it will assist hold the runway open throughout all forms of climate situations. Having the potential to spray deicer and sand, together with the inside track plow, can be a game-changer.”

Jennifer Schildgen, Airport Planning Supervisor with the Idaho Division of Aeronautics, agrees.

“The Main Idaho initiative has supplied airports statewide with drastically wanted grant funds to assist the Idaho Aviation System,” she mentioned. “The Orofino Airport’s Snow-Elimination Gear challenge is an excellent instance of how the State is supporting our transportation system.”