Large U.S. airports received 10% of the 2,059 airport infrastructure grants that the Federal Aviation Administration awarded in 2006, but they accounted for 33% of the grant program’s $3.41 billion in obligated funds, the agency says. The numbers were about the same in 2005 when large and medium hubs got 10% of the airport grants, but 35% of the $3.42 billion obligated.
Large airports received 33% of airport grant dollars that FAA obligated in 2006. |
FAA’s most recent annual report on the Airport Improvement Program, posted Aug. 29 on its Website, also shows that the top five states for AIP dollars last year were California, with $307 million; Texas, $254 million; Alaska, $221 million; Illinois, $157 million; and Florida, $152 million.
In addition, the agency’s study says that 67% of AIP’s 2006 funds went for airside construction projects, such as runways, taxiways and aprons. In 2005, airside work received 65% of AIP’s funds.
The report also covers passenger facility charges (PFCs), which can be used to fund a broader range of infrastructure projects than AIP aid can. PFC collections totaled $2.4 billion in 2006, up $216 million from 2005, FAA says. Last year, 32% of PFC funds approved went for airside work, 40% for landside projects, mainly terminals, and 27% to pay interest on airport authorities’ bonds.
FAA notes that four new runways using AIP grants were commissioned in 2006 at Minneapolis-St. Paul, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Lambert St. Louis and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airports. FAA also obligated $108 million in 2006 AIP aid to repair Gulf Coast airports damaged by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
Congress is debating a bill to reauthorize AIP and other FAA programs.
Post a comment to this article
Report Abusive Comment