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.