Applies To Joint-Use And Former Military Airports

The FAA has published in the Federal Register the criteria, application procedures, and schedule to be applied by the Secretary of Transportation in designating or redesignating, and funding capital development for up to 15 current joint use or former military airports seeking first time designation or redesignation to participate in the Military Airport Program (MAP).

The MAP allows the Secretary to designate current joint-use or former military airports to receive grants from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The Secretary is authorized to designate an airport (other than an airport designated before August 24, 1994) under the following criteria:

• The airport is a former military installation closed or realigned under the Title 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2687 (announcement of closures of large Department of Defense installations after September 30, 1977), or under Section 201 or 2905 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Acts; or
• The airport is a military installation with both military and civil aircraft operations.

The Secretary shall consider for designation only those current joint-use or former military airports, at least partly converted to civilian airports as part of the national air transportation system, that will reduce delays at airports with more than 20,000 hours of annual delays in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings, or will enhance airport and air traffic control system capacity in metropolitan areas, or reduce current and projected flight delays.

The MAP provides capital development assistance to civil airport sponsors of designated current joint-use military airfields or former military airports that are included in the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Airports designated to the MAP may be able to receive grant funds from a set-aside (currently four percent of AIP discretionary funds) for airport development, including certain projects not otherwise eligible for AIP assistance. These airports are also eligible to receive grants from other categories of AIP funding. A maximum of 15 airports per fiscal year may participate in the MAP, of which 3 may be General Aviation (GA) airports. There are 8 slots available for designation or redesignation in FY 2014. There are no GA slots available in FY 2014.

Applications must be received on or before January 31, 2014.

FMI: Federal Register Listing