FAA awarding nearly $617 million

The grants will fund 408 infrastructure projects at 226 U.S. airports.    The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday that it will award $616.9 million in airport infrastructure grants as part of the $3.18 billion in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding.
   This is the fourth increment of AIP funding and provides 242 grants to 226 airports to fund 408 infrastructure projects. These projects include upgrades and new construction for runways, taxiways, aprons, terminals, aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, snow removal equipment and two firefighting training facilities.
   According to the FAA, the U.S. operates 3,323 airports and 5,000 paved runways. The country’s civil aviation accounts for $1.6 trillion in annual economic activity. 
   The FAA explained that U.S. airports receive a certain amount of AIP entitlement funding each year based on activity levels and project needs. If their capital project needs exceed their available entitlement funds, the agency can supplement them with discretionary funding.