FAA BILL SETS AIP ENTITLEMENT INCREASE FOR CARGO AIRPORTS

FAA BILL SETS AIP ENTITLEMENT INCREASE FOR CARGO AIRPORTS    The House Aviation Subcommittee has unanimously passed legislation Friday to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for $59 billion for the next four years.
   The so-called Flight 100 — Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act would replace the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21), which is due to expire this year.
   Like AIR 21, Flight 100 will continue to protect the Aviation Trust Fund, which is maintained by the user fees paid by passengers and pilots for the purpose of funding aviation improvements.
   Also in Flight 100, funding for the Airport Improvement Plan (AIP) was set at the Bush administration’s request of $3.4 billion in the first year, increasing by $200 million a year in each subsequent year. The bill also calls for increasing the AIP entitlement for cargo airports from 3 percent to 3.5 percent.