Major upgrade of lighting at Palmer’s airport awaits approval of federal funds

A long-planned major upgrade to the Palmer airport lighting and electrical systems could be underway this fall pending approval of funds by the Federal Aviation Administration and an award of a construction contact by the City of Palmer, which owns and operates the airport.

If funds come through for the project, estimated at about $3 million to $4 million, a contract for construction could be awarded by early summer, according to airport manager John Diumenti.

Much of the construction will happen next summer with the upgraded lights planned to be operational by the fall, Diumenti said.

Diumenti is also the acting city manager for Palmer, which also owns and operates the municipal airport. He is looking forward to newly-named city manager Kolby Hickel Zerbal taking over April 28, which will allow Diumenti to get back to managing the airport, he said.

The project was motivated by a need to upgrade the airport’s aging lighting system but by necessity it will require a major revamp of the entire electrical system. The lighting upgrades will involving not only that along taxiways but also the approach lights and including the rotating beacon.

Palmer’s airport has two runways, one a 6,000-foot north-sound runway and a second 3,500-foot east-west runway most used often in cross-wind conditions. Having the east-west runway available as an alternate is important because Palmer is known for its windy conditions.

There has been a series of upgrades at the city airport with a project to rebuild taxiways done last year and now the pending lighting improvements. Another project on the horizon is pavement rehabilitation needed on the north end of the airport, Diumenti said. This involves the pads for aircraft tie-downs and not runways, but it could still cost up to $20 million.

Eventually pavement improvements will be needed at the south end too, Diumenti said, but the need is more immediate on the north end.

Meanwhile, it’s going to be another busy summer at the airport. Palmer is the headquarters for aviation support for summer wildfire fighting and 2025 looks to be a major fire year due to dry conditions. The state Division of Forestry operates air support facilities at the airport including stationing five to six aircraft there on a year-around basis.

During the summer aerial tankers used for dropping of water and fire retardant are also stationed at Palmer, and the first firefighting “bomber” is due to arrive In the first week of May, Diumenti said.

The airspace around Palmer’s airport gets busy with firefighting aircraft, general aviation coming and going, and flight schools operating, so aviators and airport personnel must stay alert to maintain safe conditions.

Plans are also underway for the 2025 Great Alaska Aviation Gathering at Palmer, which is sponsored by the Alaska Airmen’s Association. Several thousand people attend this and the displays organized by the association are a popular draw. Diumenti said Dave Cruz of Cruz Construction and Doug Glenn of Glenn Air help organize the annual event.