By Ron Thaniel
March 31, 2003

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta sent to Congress March 25 the Bush Administration's four-year aviation AIR-21 reauthorization entitled the Centennial of Flight Aviation Authorization Act (Flight-100).

The Administration says that Flight 100 provides a substantial investment in safety, research, air traffic control modernization, airport infrastructure improvements and environmental initiatives.

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) will be maintained at current spending levels, $3.4 billion yearly over the next four years.

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) is a federal grant-in-aid program that represents a major source of funding for airport development and planning. Funds obligated for the AIP are drawn from the Airport and Airway Trust fund which is supported by user fees, fuel taxes and other similar revenue sources.

The FAA's most recent National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems indicates that airports need $46 billion just for AIP-eligible projects between 2001 and 2005. In addition, almost $1 billion of AIP money has been diverted from airport capacity projects to fund Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security related projects. The Conference of Mayors Aviation Security Task Force has urged the TSA to reimburse the AIP account to meet urgent capacity infrastructure needs.

Flight-100 also provides $2.9 billion in FY 2004 for FAA facilities and equipment, rising to $3.1 billion by 2007. Improving efficiency, the agency would receive $7.5 billion in FY 2004 for operations and maintenance, a 7 percent increase over the FY 2003 budget request. These funds are designed to support implementation of the FAA's Operational Evolution Plan, the acceleration of airspace redesign and future air traffic controller staffing needs. The proposal includes $100 million for safety research, engineering and development in FY 2004.

Other key policy priorities in Flight-100 include, airport project streamlining and addressing the needs of smaller communities. The authorization proposal also funds noise mitigation efforts to lessen the impacts of airport expansion and funds grants to state and local governments to make land uses adjacent to large and medium'size airports more compatible with airport operations.

Speaking before a congressional panel on Thursday, March 27, Federal Aviation Administrator Marion Blakey addressed the economic downtown experienced by the aviation industry, but acknowledged that we must prepare now for its rebound. "Recovery of the system is inevitable," said Blakey. "The temporary downturn in air travel affords us a great opportunity to focus on increasing airport capacity without unacceptable disruption to the system.

Although specific figures were not suggested by Blakey, she informed the Subcommittee that ensuring the industry's survival is a priority of the Administration.