The Government Funding of Airports

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The Federal government has played very key roles in the funding of Airports. It has done this in two different ways. First, through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) as well as discretionary grants which are funded by international departures, freight, aircraft fuel, as well as waybills. Secondly, the funding is done through the exemption of the airports from payment of federal tax upon interest income for individuals holding airport bonds.

Similarly, funds are usually generated by the Passenger Facility Charge program (PFC). This is usually under the administration of FAA. The local funds generated by this program ensure that there are improvements in the airports (Federal Aviation Administration, 2010).

Despite the fact that the capital investment of most of the airports are presently funded by cash reserves by the airports, commercial loans, debt capital which are raised through municipal bonds, as well as grants from Federal and state governments, sale of bonds which are exempted from tax as well as Federal grants which are provided through AIP program are the major financers of the main capital projects within the airports (Federal Aviation Administration, 2010).

Airport Improvement Program (AIP)

Airport Improvement Program (AIP) ensures that grants are provided to the public airports. In a number of instances, the grant covers private entities. The funding is majorly to ensure that there are significant developments of the airports that are used by the public.

Since the year 1980, a number of airports have attained significant developments. The capital developments were made possible through funding boosts made by the Federal government. This is through grants. The grants are usually given through the Airport Im...

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...by propeller aircrafts that are powered by piston (Avgas). They also levy a tax of 21.8 cent for every gallon used on the jet fuel. The tax directly goes to the Airway Trust Fund, and the Airport with a tenth of a cent being submitted to programs aimed at environmental protection as well as cleanup programs (Wells, 1992).

Works Cited

Federal Aviation Administration. (2011). Airport Improvement Program (AIP) ;Funding for

Airport Planning and Development. http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/. Assessed

September 1, 2011

Federal Aviation Administration. (2010). what is AIP?

http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/overview/. Assessed September 1, 2011

Horonjeff, R. and McKelvey, F. (1983). Planning & Design of Airports. New York: McGraw-

Hill Book Company.

Wells, A.T. (1992). Airport Planning & Management. Blue Ridge Summit, Pa.: Tab Books.

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