Albany Airport plans $15 million in construction upgrades

The Albany County Airport Authority has outlined over $15 million in construction projects and improvements it plans to make to the Albany International Airport's terminal and infrastructure during the next year. "We are constantly looking at innovative systems and procedures to improve our passengers' experience and to introduce operational efficiencies at the Airport," said David Langdon, chairman of the Albany County Airport Authority. The projects include a phased program to "re-light" the terminal with cost-efficient LED lighting and the expansion of a major aircraft maintenance hangar. The Albany International Airport's annual power bill is $2.7 million, equivalent to that of more than 1,300 homes. The LED and high efficiency lighting projects will begin on the third level of the terminal and then proceed to the remaining two floors. Studies have shown that LED lighting can reduce lighting costs by 75-80% through both energy savings and avoided maintenance costs. The total savings are estimated to be $300,000 annually upon completion of the project. The largest project to be undertaken will be the $4.2 million expansion of the current aircraft maintenance hangar located in the northwest quadrant of the Airport. The expansion will provide necessary enclosed maintenance space for additional large aircraft. One project already underway is the total replacement of the terminal's terrazzo floor. The $800,000 project began in early February and will take up to three months to complete. The project which requires the current floor to be removed, was been designed to be completed in stages to enable airline ticket counters to remain operational during the construction. Reprinted from The Saratogian