[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17347-17348]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AIRPORT AS THE 2005 RECIPIENT OF THE 
               GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT OF THE YEAR AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2005

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing Southern Illinois Airport for being awarded the 
General Aviation Airport of the Year for 2005 by the Illinois 
Department of Transportation.
  Southern Illinois Airport is located between Carbondale and 
Murphysboro, Illinois and is among the busiest airports in the state, 
with 120,000 takeoffs and landings each year. In addition to the 
private and business customers who use the airport on a daily basis, 
Southern Illinois Airport is also home to the Aviation Management and 
Flight programs for Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
  The airport is designed to accommodate aircraft from the smallest 
propeller airplanes to the small jets used in business fleets. Its 
proximity to the commercial, recreational and educational facilities of 
Southern Illinois make it convenient for the private or business 
traveler.
  Location alone is not responsible for the success of Southern 
Illinois Airport. Airport Manager Gary Shafer and approximately 200 
full and part-time employees have earned, through their hard work and 
commitment to excellence, not only the General Aviation Airport of the 
Year Award for 2005, but the continued respect and confidence of the 
flying public. This marks the fourth time that Southern Illinois 
Airport has been the recipient of this prestigious award, the second 
highest number among all the airports in the state of Illinois.
  Southern Illinois Airport, like most general aviation airports, 
relies on federal funding assistance to maintain and improve their 
facilities. I was pleased to announce a Department of Transportation 
grant in April of this year for removal of obstructions to runway 
approaches.

[[Page 17348]]

Recognizing the impact of this facility on the regional transportation 
network as well as the local economy, I have worked with my colleagues 
to secure funding for other projects in recent years. These projects 
have included; rehabilitating the primary runway and resurfacing 
another runway, replacing taxiway lighting, upgrading the snow removal 
fleet, purchase of an aircraft firefighting vehicle and acquiring land 
in the runway approach. These improvements help to ensure the safety of 
those people who fly in and out of Southern Illinois Airport on a daily 
basis.
  Under the leadership of Airport Manager Gary Shafer, Southern 
Illinois Airport has been successful in recent years that have been 
difficult for the aviation industry in general and particularly for 
general aviation airports operating in rural areas. At my request, Mr. 
Shafer testified before the Aviation Subcommittee of the House 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In that testimony, he 
addressed the role of general aviation airports and the need for 
continued federal support.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Airport 
Manager Gary Shafer, the Commissioners and staff of Southern Illinois 
Airport for this very well-deserved award.

                          ____________________