Schuylkill airport get parcels to expand

Two parcels in Barry Township, 214 and 27 acres, were transferred from Schuylkill County to the Schuylkill County Airport Authority in late December.

The acreage is part of 746.7 acres of county-owned land transferred to the authority for a planned runway extension at Joe Zerbey Airport.

The work should be completed by early summer, according to Frank Zukas, president of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation.

In September the Schuylkill County Commissioners backed a $350,000 loan to extend the main runway, which is 4,599 long.

That action guarantees payment of the loan, taken by the Schuylkill County Airport Authority. The project is expected to cost $2.3 million.

The Airport Authority has gotten a $1.6 grant through the Department of Community and Economic Development, Commonwealth Finance Agency.

The grant requires a 30 percent local match. The $350,000 (15 percent) the commissioners contributed in September, plus another $350,000 the commissioners contributed in August, combines for the 30 percent requirement.

The Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport (KZER) is Schuylkill County’s public use airport, operated by the Schuylkill County Airport Authority.

The airport is located about 8 miles northwest of the City of Pottsville and serving Pottsville and Schuylkill County.

The airport has two runways, and the longest is 75 feet wide and 4,599 feet long.

The current runway can accommodate small to medium sized corporate aircraft up to 80,000 pounds.

Hotel accommodations and various restaurants can be found within a 10-mile radius of the airport, along with a large business park.

The airport is adjacent to exit 116 from Interstate 81, which is Route 901.