AIP grants are available to public-use airports. This may include heliports or seaplane bases. The FAA describes a public airport as one that is publicly owned. A privately owned airport may qualify if it has been designated by the FAA as a relief airport or accommodates a minimum of 2,500 plane departures and arrivals each year.
For a project to be eligible for this grant, it must be related to airport safety, capacity, security or environmental concerns, according to the FAA. Projects designed to enhance airport operations or increase revenue are not generally eligible.
The funds to pay for these grants are obtained from the Airport and Airway Trust fund. This fund is maintained by user fees, fuel taxes and other sources, according to the FAA. When a project is approved, the size of the airport will determine how much the grantee receives. The FAA says that a large or medium sized hub airport will receive 75 percent of eligible project costs (this will increase to 80 percent for noise related projects) from the grant. A small primary, relief or general aviation airport will receive 95 percent of eligible project costs from the grant.
The FAA states that once a grant is accepted, the grantee has certain obligations, also known as grant assurances. These assurances require the grantee to maintain his airport safely and efficiently. These assurances may be attached to the final grant offer. The duration of the assurance will be based on factors such as the expected life of the facility, the type of facility and any other factors that are stipulated in the documentation.
