Transportation

What Is the FAA Airport Improvement Program?

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides grants to public agencies — and, in some cases, to private owners and entities — for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).

How Much of the Project Cost Does the Grant Cover?

For large and medium primary hub airports, the grant covers 75 percent of eligible costs (or 80 percent for noise program implementation). For small primary, reliever, and general aviation airports, the grant covers a range of 90-95 percent of eligible costs, based on statutory requirements. Please contact your local Airports Office for more details.

What Airports are Eligible?

AIP grants for planning, development, or noise compatibility projects are at or associated with individual 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:

• Publicly owned, or
• Privately owned but designated by FAA as a reliever, or
• 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 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.

Recipients of grants are referred to as "sponsors." The description of eligible grant activities is described in the authorizing legislation and relates to capital items serving to develop and improve the airport in areas of safety, capacity, and 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.

What Types of Projects Are Eligible?

Eligible projects include those improvements related to enhancing airport safety, capacity, security, and environmental concerns. In general, sponsors can get AIP funds for most airfield capital improvements or rehabilitation projects and in some specific situations, for terminals, hangars, and nonaviation development. Certain professional services that are necessary for eligible projects (such as planning, surveying, and design) can also be eligible. The FAA must be able to determine that the projects are justified based on civil aeronautical demand. The projects must also meet Federal environmental and procurement requirements.

Projects related to revenue producing facilities may be eligible at non-primary airports if the airport has already satisfactorily addressed all airside needs and the improvement will increase revenue for the airport.

Projects related to airport operations are not eligible for funding. Operational costs - such as salaries, equipment, and supplies - are also not eligible for AIP grants.

The table below lists typical examples of eligible and ineligible projects; the list is not exhaustive. Questions about AIP eligibility should be directed to the appropriate  Regional Airports Office.

Eligible Projects

• Runway construction/rehabilitation
• Taxiway construction/rehabilitation
• Apron construction/rehabilitation
• Airfield lighting
• Airfield signage
• Airfield drainage
• Land acquisition
• Weather observation stations (AWOS)
• NAVAIDs such as REILs and PAPIs
• Planning studies
• Environmental studies
• Safety area improvements
• Airport layout plans (ALPs)
• Access roads only located on airport property
• Removing, lowering, moving, marking, and lighting hazards
• Glycol Recovery Trucks/Glycol Vacuum Trucks** (11/29/2007)

*May be conditionally eligible at non-primary airports. Contact your local Airport District or Regional Office for more information.

Labor Compliance Monitoring for FAA AIP Construction Projects

We provide pre-bid assistance to airport staff in preparing related documents to ensure FAA AIP labor compliance with federal and state regulations. We also provide assistance with bid evaluation, pre-construction, construction and post construction project phases, including but not limited to, attending meetings with contractors, reviewing certified payroll records and other documents; conducting interviews, and preparing reports as necessary to conform to the FAA AIP program requirements. We can also notify and provide training to airport staff on all new FAA AIP labor compliance regulations and processes.

Services We Provide Awarding Agencies

1. Review agreements and determine specific labor standards parameters applicable to the specific project.

2. Provide airport staff with required labor compliance standards language for inclusion in construction bid documents and all applicable contracts to be executed by the airport and its contractors.

3. Assist airport staff with labor compliance related requests for information during procurement process.

4. Implement and monitor Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) program.

5. Ensure Prevailing Wage and Federal Wage Decision is incorporated in the project specifications and contract.

6. Ensure Federal Wage Decision is current at bid opening or other date as appropriate.

7. Verify contractor/subcontractor eligibility to contract with Federal and State agencies (SAM/State debarment verifications, etc.) and report discrepancies or concerns prior to award.

8. Prepare and submit contract award notices to Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and FAA AIP.

9. Participate in preconstruction meetings and inform contractors of wage and reporting obligations. Prepare and distribute preconstruction meeting minutes as they pertain to labor compliance requirements.

10. Create and maintain Labor Compliance Administration files.

11. Conduct employee field interviews and reconcile with certified payrolls. Verify and document the posting of federal notices on jobsites.

12. Perform ongoing and timely monitoring reviews of weekly certified payroll reports (CPRs) to insure compliance with higher of federal/state applicable wages and related submissions for compliance.

13. Ensure apprentices, if any, are documented and currently active in DAS and DOL-OA approved programs.

14. Notify prime contractor(s) in writing of any deficiencies in wages, overtime compensation, incomplete or inaccurate CPRs, and/or incomplete or inaccurate Statements of Compliance; define corrective actions and notify contractor in writing when full compliance has been achieved.

15. Identify violations and investigate complaints of underpayment to workers.

16. Prepare any required reports of labor standards violations to FAA as necessary.

17. Prepare various reports for contract and labor compliance, including but not limited to the Contract and Subcontract Activity Report and Semi-Annual Labor Standards Enforcement Report.

18. Prepare and issue final project close out report and provide project related data to airport staff as requested.

19. Maintain continuous communication with airport staff.

Federal Airport Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Training

We provide comprehensive FAA Davis-Bacon labor compliance training at the individual and group level.

Please email us with your training requirements.