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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Ford Airport is in the process of clear cutting more than 200 acres of aspens near airport runways in order to meet regulations from the Federal Aviation Administration.

"There are two primary objectives here with this timber sale,” said Consulting Forester Brock VanOss.  “The primary one is the removal of the trees within the airport, the distance to meet the FAA's requirements.  The second overall objective is for the forest's health."

The project is part of Ford Airport's proactive approach to safety.

The airport is also installing LED lighting to the runways, taxi-ways, and to the parking lot, thanks to a $130,000 grant from the federal government.

"The LED lighting is great.  The pilots can see it, and it penetrates through the fog a lot better,” said Ford Airport Manager Tim Howen.  “It gets the aircraft in when otherwise they may not be able to."

The new lighting is also expected to cut into the airport's energy costs, saving an estimated 40 percent over the lifetime of the lights.

Howen said these projects are signs that the airport is continuing to move in the right direction.

"It sure improves on our airport's user ability right now,” he said.  “It's a win-win situation for us, and the safety is going to be that much better for the pilots, passengers, and actually for us."

Ford Airport also has plans to revamp the terminal and bring in new security equipment this spring.