[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 174 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52074-52075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20459]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Airport Improvement Program Grant Assurances; Proposed 
Modifications and Opportunity To Comment

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. DOT.

ACTION: Notice of modification of Airport Improvement Program grant 
application requirements and of the opportunity to comment.

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to modify the standard grant application 
requirements that are required of a sponsor of a nonprimary airport 
before receiving a grant under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). 
The FAA is providing an opportunity for public comment on proposals to 
modify the grant application requirements.
    Sponsors of nonprimary airports are now required to provide a 
variety of information when submitting an AIP grant application. This 
modification would require that a sponsor of a nonprimary airport 
submit a list of the aircraft (fixed wing and rotary wing) that are 
based on the airport.

DATES: Comments are invited. Comments must be submitted on or before 
October 8, 2008. Any necessary or appropriate revision to the 
application requirements resulting from the comments received will be 
adopted as of the date of a subsequent publication in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be delivered or mailed to the FAA, Airports 
Financial Assistance Division, APP-500, Room 619, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Wayne Heibeck, Airports Planning 
and Programming Division, APP 2, Room 620, FAA, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, Telephone (202) 267-8775.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In order to be considered for AIP grant 
funds, a sponsor (the grant applicant) must meet certain requirements 
and provide certain information regarding the project for which grant 
funds are being sought. The Secretary must receive this information 
from a sponsor (applicant) seeking financial assistance for airport 
planning, airport development, noise compatibility planning or noise 
mitigation under Title 49, U.S.C., as amended. Decisions to award 
discretionary grants are made on the basis of a number of factors. 
Nonprimary airports that have not provided verifiable data regarding 
the number of aircraft that are based at the airport hinder FAA from 
determining whether a project at that airport is justified. Therefore, 
if a nonprimary airport has not provided the verifiable based aircraft 
information, FAA will consider the failure to provide the information 
as a factor when considering a request from that airport for 
discretionary funding.

Discussion of Modifications

    FAA prescribes the information that must be contained in a grant 
application. For nonprimary airport grant applications, FAA has 
determined that accurate information on based aircraft is an important 
element of justification for many proposed AIP projects at nonprimary 
airports. In addition, based aircraft data supports the airport's 
importance in the biennial Report to Congress--the National Plan of 
Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) and in the Airport Master Record 
(the Form 5010). A based aircraft is an operational aircraft that is 
registered in the FAA Aircraft Registry that is at the airport the 
majority of the year. Registered aircraft are defined in Chapter 14 
Code of Federal Regulations Part 47. An operational aircraft is an 
aircraft that is in a condition for safe operation.
    FAA may require a sponsor for a nonprimary airport to include a 
list of the based aircraft at the airport, including the ``N-number'' 
for each aircraft when submitting a grant application or may require 
the sponsor to update the list of based aircraft submitted with the 
most recent Form 5010 inspection.
    The FAA manages the AIP in accordance with statutory direction and 
agency policies and criteria. Decisions

[[Page 52075]]

to award discretionary grants are made on the basis of a number of 
factors, including project evaluation under the National Priority 
System and the current operations and number of aircraft that are based 
at an airport. Nonprimary airports that have not provided verifiable 
data on the number of based aircraft at the airport deprive FAA of a 
tool for reviewing discretionary requests. Therefore, if a nonprimary 
airport has not provided a list of based aircraft at the airport, 
including ``N-number'', FAA will consider the failure to provide the 
information as a factor when considering a request from the airport for 
discretionary funding.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 27, 2008.
Wayne Heibeck,
Deputy Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. E8-20459 Filed 9-5-08; 8:45 am]
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