Congress Passes New Airport And Airway Legislation

Originally published in 1993

The legislation authorizing the Airport Improvement Program expired on September 30, 1992. Just prior to adjourning for the election, both the U.S. Senate and House passed a bill extending the Airport Improvement Program through September 30, 1993 which the President then signed into law. Some of the highlights of the legislation are:

• the Airport Improvement Program has been authorized for Fiscal Year 1993 at a level of $2.05 billion (although the Fiscal Year 1993 DOT Appropriations Act set a limit of $1.8 billion on the AIP);
• the FFA facilities and equipment program has been extended for three more years;
• the minimum level of entitlement funds for primary commercial service airports has increased to $400,000 and the maximum increases to $22 million;
• additional funds are available for air cargo airports, noise abatement programs, and FAA research and development programs;
• certain environmental projects and relocation of FAA owned facilities are now eligible for funding;
• the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise programs have been expanded and modified;
• the number of states allowed to participate in the state block grant program has been increased from three to seven and the program has been extended through 1996.