The U.S. House Transportation Committee held a hearing on Wednesdayon the status of the Airport Improvement Program. The long-standingprogram delivers a minimum of $150,000 per year to every generalaviation airport. The FAA wants to eliminate that guarantee. Busierairports would get $400,000 every year, airports with 10 to 49aircraft based there would get $100,000, and airports smaller thanthat would get no guaranteed allotment. Gerald Dillingham, of theGovernment Accountability Office, told the hearing that the FAA’sproposed changes would have an “uncertain” impact on smallerairports, which are more reliant on AIP funds. Charles Barclay,president of the American Association of Airport Executives, told thecommittee his group was “dismayed” by the proposal to cut AIPfunding, and asked for an increase instead. The completetestimony from the hearing is available online at the
FAA’s Airport Funding Proposals Aired
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. House Transportation Committee held a hearing on the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which currently guarantees $150,000 annually to general aviation airports.
- The FAA proposes to eliminate this guaranteed funding, instead providing more to busier airports and less or no guaranteed allotment to smaller airports.
- Both the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and airport executives expressed concern that the FAA's proposed changes would negatively impact smaller airports, which rely heavily on AIP funds.
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