State/Local Airport Improvement Program

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP), administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation and aligned with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), provides federal aid for the development of public-use airports across the United States. This program operates under the authority of Public Laws 115-254 and 115-141 and is additionally guided by Illinois state statute 620 ILCS 5. The program is partially exempt from GATA requirements, though universities are not exempt. Administered at the state level by Joseph Segobiano (joseph.segobiano@illinois.gov, 217.558.2948), the program functions to support critical infrastructure needs in aviation with a focus on safety, capacity, environmental protections, and economic development. AIP’s primary goal is to ensure that the United States maintains a safe, efficient, and comprehensive system of public-use airports. Funding supports a broad range of development activities including runway reconstruction, taxiway improvements, terminal maintenance, firefighting and emergency preparedness upgrades, and noise compatibility planning. The scope of funding prioritizes projects that enhance long-term safety, operational capacity, and economic viability of airports, and includes noise mitigation and accessibility improvements. Airports must be publicly owned, open to the public, and listed in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) to qualify. Eligible applicants include states, municipalities, counties, U.S. territories and possessions, tribal governments, and certain private owners of reliever airports or airports serving at least 2,500 passengers annually. Additional eligibility applies for noise compatibility projects. All applicants must comply with FAA federal grant assurances and meet financial and legal capability requirements. Pre-application coordination includes environmental impact assessments and may allow alternative documentation depending on project type. Credentials verifying the sponsor’s legal and financial authority are also required. The application process includes filing Standard Form 424 with FAA field offices, with further documentation such as FAA Form 5100-101 for planning grants. Applications are reviewed and approved by regional or Washington offices based on criteria such as necessity for system safety and efficiency and alignment with the NPIAS. Grant offers, once approved, are formalized through FAA Form 5100-37. Sponsors must notify FAA by May or as stated in the Federal Register of their intent to apply. Grant offers must be formally accepted by September 30 of the fiscal year in which funds are appropriated. Funding levels vary annually, with amounts reaching as high as $395 million in FY 2025. Individual awards have ranged from $31,500 to $45 million, with an average award of approximately $1.2 million. Matching requirements for recipients range from 5% to 25%, and may go up to 50% in select pilot studies. Grants are project-specific, and recipients are expected to provide detailed performance and financial reports throughout the project lifecycle. Site inspections and quarterly performance updates are required, and records must be retained for up to 20 years. Program accomplishments include large-scale infrastructure and safety projects across the U.S., with specific examples like major taxiway renovations, firefighting facility construction, and sound insulation installations. Projects funded under AIP are instrumental in enhancing the overall capacity, emergency preparedness, and community compatibility of the nation’s airports. Regulatory compliance is mandated through a wide array of federal and state laws and regulations, including those related to civil rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and disability access. The program is headquartered at 1 Langhorne Bond Dr, Springfield, IL, and more information is available at http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/.

Submit intent by May, coordinate with FAA early, prepare environmental and legal documentation in advance.