Airports & Aviation

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Airports & The Aviation Industry

AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (AIP) AND AIRPORT CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ACAP) GRANTS

In order to receive assistance from these programs an eligible Airport MUST demonstrate good maintenance practices. TRO professionals are effective in showing airports how to organize, collect and track all the necessary historical maintenance records for effective applications.

 

The AIP was developed by the FAA. It provides grants for planning, development, or noise compatibility projects for public-use airports (including heliports and seaplane bases).

 

A public-use airport is an airport open to the public that also meets the following criteria:

 

  1. Publicly owned, or
  2. Privately owned but designated by the FAA as a reliever, or
  3. Privately owned but having scheduled service and at least 2,500 annual enplanements.

 

Further, to be eligible for a grant, an airport must be included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The NPIAS, which is prepared and published every 2 years, identifies public-use airports that are important to public transportation and contribute to the needs of civil aviation, national defense, and the Postal service.

 

To be eligible to receive a grant, an activity to develop and improve the airport needs to fall in the areas of safety, capacity, and/or noise compatibility. In addition to these basic principles, a sponsor must be legally, financially, and otherwise able to carry out the assurances and obligations contained in the project application and grant agreement.

 

Eligible projects include those improvements related to enhancing airport safety, capacity, security, and environmental concerns. In general, sponsors can use AIP funds on most airfield capital improvements or repairs. Any professional services that are necessary for eligible projects—such as planning, surveying, and design—are eligible, as is runway, taxiway, and apron pavement maintenance. Aviation demand at the airport must justify the projects, which must also meet Federal environmental and procurement requirements.

 

The ACAP (similar to the AIP) was developed by Transport Canada. Its purpose is to assist in financing capital projects related to safety, asset protection, and operating cost reduction.

 

For further information and assistance with this program, contact us and we will be pleased to determine if your airport is eligible for a grant.