Because of the long lead time involved in the state and federal airport improvement funding process, it is important that airport sponsors anticipate needs and plan ahead. From the time a request for funding is received by the Aviation Division to the time a project may actually be implemented, five years can elapse. The Aviation Division often receives sponsor requests for projects that are “needed yesterday” but we cannot accommodate them. We recommend that every airport sponsor anticipate both routine maintenance projects and other capital improvements so that they can be programmed in the appropriate year-when they are really needed.