Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a $342,000 federal grant to Saratoga County for important infrastructure improvements. Specifically, this investment from the FAA via the Airport Improvement Program will help fund updates to Saratoga County Airport’s master plan to collect imagery and data for uploading into the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Geographic Information System. Additionally, this funding will enable Saratoga County to update its master plan to accommodate future stakeholder demand and access needs.
“This Federal Aviation Administration grant will ensure that the Saratoga County Airport can continue to serve residents and visitors and help boost the area’s economy,” said Schumer. “The master plan will help improve airport efficiency and safety, thereby bringing more businesses and travelers to the region.”
“This is an important investment for the Saratoga County Airport,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Keeping the airport sound for years to come will help keep more travelers and businesses on the move through the Capital Region, and help strengthen the local economy.”
The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) through the Federal Aviation Administration provides grants to public agencies — and, in some cases, to private owners and entities — for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The NPIAS, which is prepared and published every 2 years, identifies public-use airports that are important to public transportation and contribute to the needs of civil aviation, national defense, and the Postal service.
The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) was established by the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982. Since then, the AIP has been amended several times, most recently with the passage of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. 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.