The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said recently that the US Transportation Department has awarded US$986 million in airport infrastructure grants to 354 airports in 44 states — as well as Puerto Rico and various political entities in Micronesia — as part of the fifth allotment of the FAA's Airport Improvement Programme (AIP).
The FAA said selected projects include runway reconstruction and rehabilitation, construction of firefighting facilities, noise mitigation, emissions reduction, and the maintenance of taxiways, aprons, and terminals meant to increase airports’ safety, emergency response capabilities, and capacity, to spur economic growth in various states and territories.
The Guam Airport Authority received US$4.596 million to modify the terminal building. Two airports in the Northern Mariana Islands received funding: Rota and Tinian will each receive nearly US$3 million to install perimeter fencing. Saipan, the commonwealth's largest airport, did not receive ay funding.
Airports in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) were funded, as well. Yap International received US$4.248 million and Kosrae Airport received US$3.807 million, both for miscellaneous improvements, while Chuuk was awarded US$600,000 to conduct an aeronautical survey for an RNAV approach. Pohnpei was not listed among the awards in the FSM.
Marshall Islands International in Majuro received US$1 million for various improvements, while Koror Airport in Palau received US$300,000 to acquire equipment.
The largest awards went to airports in the 50 states, including:
- Burlington International Airport in Vermont, US$16 million
- International Falls Airport in Minnesota, US$15.9 million
- Grant County International Airport in Washington, US$10 million
- Kenai Municipal Airport in Alaska, US$6.5 million
- Lake Elmo Airport in Minnesota, US$1.2 million
- Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania, US$13.4 million
- Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport in Maryland, US$3.4 million
- St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport in Florida, US$19.7 million
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri, US$1.53 million
- San Francisco International Airport in California, US$6.4 million
- University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport in Oklahoma, US$5.1 million
“Infrastructure projects funded by these grants will advance safety, improve travel, generate jobs and provide other economic benefits for local communities,” said US Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
FAA said airport infrastructure in the US, with 3,332 airports and 5,000 paved runways, supports economic competitiveness and improves quality of life.
According to the FAA's most recent economic analysis, US civil aviation accounts for US$1.6 trillion in total economic activity and supports nearly 11 million jobs.
Under the AIP, American airports can receive a certain amount of AIP entitlement funding each year based on activity levels and project needs. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, the FAA can then supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding.
