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) to discuss its status.
- The FAA proposes to overhaul the AIP, eliminating the current $150,000 guaranteed annual funding for all general aviation airports in favor of a tiered system where the smallest airports would receive no guaranteed allotment.
- Critics, including the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the American Association of Airport Executives, expressed dismay and concern over the "uncertain" and potentially negative impact on smaller airports that are highly dependent on AIP funds.
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