Final Inspection: FAA awards $527.8 million to airports

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) secretary Elaine Chao announced May 31, 2017, that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $527.8 million in airport infrastructure grants to 584 airports across the United States as part of the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

“The Airport Improvement Program helps to maintain our aviation infrastructure and supports safety, capacity, security, and environmental improvements,” said Secretary Chao.

The airport grant program funds various types of airport infrastructure projects, including runways, taxiways, and airport signage, lighting, and marking, which help to create thousands of jobs.

“Investing in our airport infrastructure ensures the safe and efficient operation of our air transportation system,” said FAA administrator Michael P. Huerta. “This funding program helps us maintain, renovate, and build airport infrastructure.”

Airports are entitled to a certain amount of AIP funding each year, based on passenger volume. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, then the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding. At this time, the FAA is providing discretionary funding to 38 airports based on their high-priority project needs.