Roberta Aguirre
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) is an inventory of US aviation infrastructure assets, developed and maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It identifies existing and proposed airports that are significant to national air transportation in the US, including commercial service, primary, cargo service, reliever, and general aviation airports. The NPIAS outlines the roles these airports serve and their eligibility for federal funding through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This funding is crucial for modernizing airports to meet current design standards and address congestion. The FAA also categorizes airports within the NPIAS based on their activity levels, with five roles: National, Regional, Local, Basic, and Unclassified.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) |
| Location | United States |
| Governing Body | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) |
| Number of Airports | 3,300 public-use airports |
| Types of Airports | Commercial service, reliever, and general aviation airports |
| Categories | Nonprimary commercial service, primary commercial service, relievers, cargo service, and general aviation |
| Nonprimary Airports | National, Regional, Local, Basic, and Unclassified |
| Commercial Service Airports | Publicly owned with at least 2,500 passenger boardings each calendar year |
| Primary Airports | Commercial service airports with more than 10,000 passenger boardings each year |
| Hub Categories | Defined as a percentage of total passenger boardings within the US in the most current calendar year |
| Cargo Service Airports | Served by aircraft providing air transportation of only cargo with a total annual landed weight of more than 100 million pounds |
| Funding | Federal grants under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) |
| Purpose | Identify significant airports for national air transportation, provide funding for infrastructure development, and ensure compliance with modern design standards |
| Population Served | 95% of the US population live within 30 miles of a primary airport; 99.7% live within 30 miles of an NPIAS airport |
| Reports | Published every two years with the most recent in 2022 for 2023-2027 |
| Development Needs | Strengthening and widening runways, expanding aprons, acquiring new equipment, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
National Airports System in Canada
Canada's National Airports System (NAS) is a network of major airports defined in the National Airports Policy, which was published in 1994. The NAS includes all airports with an annual traffic of 200,000 passengers or more, as well as airports serving national, provincial, and territorial capitals. Overall, there are 26 airports in the NAS, with seven in the Atlantic Provinces, three in Quebec, four in Ontario, five in the Prairie Provinces, and four in British Columbia. Three additional airports are located in the capitals of Canada's territories.
The NAS is owned and operated by a mix of government and private entities. All airports in the NAS, except the three territorial capitals, are owned by Transport Canada and leased to the local authorities operating them. The three territorial airports are owned and operated by their respective territorial governments, except for Iqaluit Airport, which is operated by Nunavut Airport Services Limited (NASL), a subsidiary of WASCO (Winnipeg Airport Services Corporation).
The NAS airports are operated by private, not-for-profit, non-share-capital corporations called airport authorities. These airport authorities operate on federal land through long-term ground leases. The federal government may nominate up to two people to each airport authority's board of directors. The airport authorities are responsible for providing airport services and ensuring that key board functions stay with the authorities, so that airport members can use their expertise and fulfill their fiduciary duties.
Canada's airport operators have built world-class infrastructure, connecting the country to the global community and contributing to economic growth and prosperity. The user-pay system in Canada means that most airports are funded through fees paid by users of airport services, including air carriers. This model has been cost-effective, but more investment will be needed to support the growing demand for air travel in Canada. Private investment in NAS airports benefits airport authorities, investors, and passengers, supporting the Canadian transportation system and economy.
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National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS)
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) is an inventory of U.S. aviation infrastructure assets. It was developed and is currently maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The NPIAS identifies nearly 3,300 public-use airports included in the national airport system, including commercial service airports, reliever airports, and selected public-owned general aviation airports. It also outlines the roles these airports serve and the types and amounts of airport development eligible for federal funding through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) over the next five years.
The NPIAS is a crucial tool for managing and maintaining the national airport system in the U.S. It helps to ensure that airports are operational and functional, meeting the FAA's design standards. As aircraft technology advances and air traffic increases, many aging airports require upgrades to accommodate larger, more complex aircraft and improve overall efficiency. The NPIAS provides a framework for these improvements, with estimated funding needs for infrastructure development projects, including runway and taxiway modifications, expansion or construction of new aprons, and the acquisition of modern equipment for weather reporting, snow removal, and deicing.
The AIP, managed by the FAA, provides grants to eligible airports to support these development projects. The NPIAS serves as a guide for allocating these funds, ensuring they are directed towards the most critical areas. The FAA is required to provide Congress with a five-year estimate of AIP-eligible development every two years, keeping legislators informed and enabling strategic planning for the nation's aviation infrastructure.
Additionally, the NPIAS plays a vital role in streamlining federal programs essential to airport development. For instance, the Airports Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) is now a subset of the NPIAS, serving as the primary financial planning tool for managing the AIP. This integration enhances efficiency in airport development planning and ensures that federal resources are utilized effectively.
Overall, the NPIAS is a comprehensive plan that guides the development and improvement of the national airport system in the U.S. By identifying key airports, outlining their roles, and providing a roadmap for federal funding, the NPIAS helps ensure that the nation's aviation infrastructure keeps pace with technological advancements and meets the needs of modern air transportation.
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Commercial service airports
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) categorises airports by the type of activities they support. One of these categories is commercial service airports, which are publicly owned airports that serve at least 2,500 passengers per year and provide scheduled passenger services. Airports in this category are considered to have a role in the national airport system.
Primary airports are commercial service airports that serve more than 10,000 passengers per year. Hub categories for primary airports are determined as a percentage of total passenger boardings within the United States in the most recent calendar year.
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) is an inventory of US aviation infrastructure assets, developed and maintained by the FAA. It identifies existing and proposed airports that are significant to national air transportation and eligible for federal grants under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The NPIAS contains all commercial service airports, all reliever airports, and selected public-owned general aviation airports.
The NPIAS identifies nearly 3,300 public-use airports, their roles, and the types and amounts of airport development eligible for AIP funding over the next five years. The FAA publishes a five-year estimate of AIP-eligible development every two years. The NPIAS also includes estimates of the AIP funding required to bring airports up to current design standards and add capacity to congested airports.
The Airports Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) is an internal FAA document that serves as the primary planning tool for identifying and prioritising critical airport development within the NPIAS. It is produced annually and is based on reported information from the nine Regional Offices. The ACIP must prioritise funding requests from individual regions while also considering the long-term national goals of the FAA.
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Non-primary airports
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) categorises airports by the type of activities they support. These categories include primary airports, which are commercial service airports that handle more than 10,000 passenger boardings per year, and non-primary airports, which include non-primary commercial service, reliever, and general aviation airports.
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) is an inventory of US aviation infrastructure assets, developed and maintained by the FAA. It identifies existing and proposed airports that are significant to national air transportation and eligible for federal grants under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The NPIAS includes all commercial service and reliever airports, as well as selected public-owned general aviation airports.
The NPIAS plays a crucial role in connecting Americans to national transportation, with over 95% of the population living within 30 miles of a primary airport and 99.7% within 30 miles of an NPIAS airport. This means that for over 60 million rural Americans, an airport is the only method of accessing national transportation.
The FAA has established design standards for airports, and many aging airports no longer meet these standards due to improvements in aircraft and increased air traffic. Upgrades and modernisations are necessary to bring these airports up to date, and this currently accounts for a significant portion of NPIAS funding needs.
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Airport Improvement Program (AIP)
The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) is a United States federal grant program that provides funds to public-use airports to improve safety and efficiency. The AIP provides grants to public agencies and, in some cases, to private owners and entities for the planning and development of public-use airports included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The NPIAS identifies approximately 3,300 public-use airports included in the national airport system, their current roles, and the amounts and types of airport development eligible for Federal funding under the AIP over the next 5 years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is required to publish a 5-year estimate of AIP-eligible development every other year.
Funding for the AIP is provided by the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which receives revenue from taxes on airplane tickets and aviation fuel. The federal grant may cover between 75 and 95% of the eligible costs, depending on the type of improvement and the size of the airport. Both commercial and general aviation airports are eligible for AIP grants. Improvement projects relate to runways, taxiways, ramps, lighting, signage, weather stations, NAVAIDs, land acquisition, and some areas of planning.
The AIP was established under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 by combining the Planning Grant Program (PGP) and Airport Development Air Program (ADAP) into a single, usually multi-year, grant. In 1994, the provisions of the Act were codified in subchapter I of chapter 471 of title 49 of the United States Code. Grants awarded for Fiscal Year 2017 totaled $3,332,800,000.
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Frequently asked questions
In Canada, the National Airports System is a group of major airports outlined in the National Airports Policy published in 1994. NAS includes airports with an annual traffic of 200,000 passengers or more, as well as airports serving the national, provincial, and territorial capitals.
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems is an inventory of US aviation infrastructure assets. NPIAS identifies existing and proposed airports that are significant to national air transportation and are therefore eligible for federal grants under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
The NPIAS includes all commercial service airports, reliever airports, and selected public-owned general aviation airports. It also categorises airports by their activity levels, including non-primary commercial service, primary commercial service, and cargo service.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is required to provide Congress with a five-year estimate of AIP-eligible development every two years. The NPIAS is updated accordingly, with the most recent publication released in September 2022.
