Airport Improvement Program

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses Airport Improvement Program funds to pay for projects that enhance capacity, safety, security, and noise mitigation at airports included in its National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. From 1982 to 1992, the program provided about $13 billion for airport improvements at more than 2,600, or about 80 percent, of the 3,300 airports listed in the plan. This fact sheet provides information on FAA's allocation of program funds by region, type of airport, and type of project.

GAO found that: (1) FAA uses AIP funds to support airport planning and development projects that enhance airport capacity, safety, security, and noise reduction; (2) airports receive AIP funding for specific airport projects through legislated entitlements and set-asides and FAA has discretionary authority over the remaining AIP funds for individual airport needs; (3) AIP allocated about $13 billion for airport improvements at 2,655 airports on the National Plan of Integrated Airport System list between 1982 and 1992; (4) AIP entitlements decreased to 56.5 percent, set-asides increased to 27.75 percent, and discretionary grants increased to 15.75 percent between 1982 and 1992; (5) AIP discretionary grants have decreased because Congress has limited FAA use of discretionary funds; (6) although the amount of funding distributed to FAA regions has varied since 1982, the percentage of funding received by each region has remained constant; (7) larger passenger airports receive 69 percent of AIP funds; (8) although the annual distribution of AIP project funds has remained constant, 55 percent of AIP funds are obligated for runway, taxiway, and apron pavement; (9) some projects receive increased funding because of new programs and requirements; and (10) airports tended to use entitlements for terminal and roadway development and discretionary funds for noise reduction and airport capacity projects.