Introduction to the Airport Improvement Program

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Introduction to the Airport Improvement Program

To promote the development of a system to meet the Nation's needs, the Federal Government embarked on a grants-in-aid program to units of state and local government shortly after the end of World War II. This early program, the Federal-Aid Airport Program (FAAP), was authorized by the Federal Airport Act of 1946 and drew its funding from the general fund of the Treasury. In 1970, a more comprehensive program was established with the passage of the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970. This Act provided grants for airport planning under the Planning Grant Program (PGP) and for airport development under the Airport Development Aid Program (ADAP). These programs were funded from a newly established Airport and Airway Trust Fund, into which were deposited revenues from several aviation user taxes on such items as airlines fares, air freight, and aviation fuel. The authority to issue grants under these two programs expired on September 30, 1981. During this 11 year period, 8,809 grants totalling $4.5 billion were approved for airport planning and development. The current grant program, known as the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), was established by the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982; it continues to provide funding for airport planning and development, but under a single program. Funding through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund is also continued, along with many other features in the previous legislation. The 1982 Act also authorizes funds for noise compatibility planning and to carry out noise compatibility programs as set forth in the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (P.L. 96-193).