The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is to award US$840m in airport infrastructure grants, the first allotment of US$3.18bn in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for airports across the USA.
This significant investment in airport improvements will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in US aviation, according to US Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L Chao, who made the announcement.
The 432 grants will fund infrastructure projects at 381 airports across the country. Selected projects include runway reconstruction and rehabilitation, construction of firefighting facilities, and the maintenance of taxiways, aprons, and terminals.
US airports can receive a certain amount of AIP entitlement funding each year based on activity levels and project needs. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, the FAA can supplement their entitlements with discretionary funding.
Among the awards made were: US$2,581,644 to Daytona Beach International Airport for improvement of the terminal building; US$3,256,483 to Springfield-Branson National Airport for the construction of an apron and a terminal building; and US$1,379,521 to Sheridan County Airport for terminal building expansion and the installation of apron flood lighting.