The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides grants for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).
Eligible projects include those improvements related to enhancing airport safety, capacity, security, and environmental concerns. In general, sponsors can get AIP funds for most airfield capital improvements or rehabilitation projects and in some specific situations, for terminals, hangars, and nonaviation development. Certain professional services that are necessary for eligible projects (such as planning, surveying, and design) can also be eligible. The FAA must be able to determine that the projects are justified based on civil aeronautical demand.
Eligible projects include:
- Runway construction/rehabilitation
- Taxiway construction/rehabilitation
- Apron construction/rehabilitation
- Airfield lighting
- Airfield signage
- Airfield drainage
- Land acquisition
- Weather observation stations
- Planning studies
- Environmental studies
- Safety area improvements
- Airport layout plans
- Access roads
- Removing, lowering, moving, marking, and lighting hazards
- Glycol Recovery Trucks/Glycol Vacuum Trucks
A full list of eligible and ineligible projects is available to view at: https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/overview/.
In addition to promoting safety, the FAA seeks to fund projects under AIP that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, incorporate evidence-based climate resilience measures and features, reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the project materials, avoid adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality, wetlands, and endangered species, and address the disproportionate negative environmental impacts of transportation on disadvantaged communities. Also, the FAA encourages applicants to consider how a proposed project directly benefits investments in Voluntary Airport Low Emission (VALE) and Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) programs to disadvantaged communities and ensures meaningful public engagement.
In FY 2021, 404 discretionary grants were issued, totaling approximately $1.5 billion. The discretionary grants ranged in amount from $25,000 to $37,000,000. The average AIP discretionary grant was $4,000,000. In FY 2022, the FAA anticipates awarding discretionary grants beginning in April 2022 with an individual grant 4-year period of performance.