Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982

 

 

Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982

 

                       An aviation legislative act that goes unnoticed by many but impacted the flying world greatly is the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982. This act approved research, engineering, and development to improve and increase the efficiency and safety of air transport (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2016). The goal was to vastly improve safety, noise compatibility, and airport capacity. This act awarded nearly every single United States airport, large or small, money in the forms of grants if they were financially, legally, and able to perform the obligations laid out in the agreement (FAA, 2016). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are ultimately responsible for deeming an airport company eligible for the grant.

 

 

 

                       This money allowed major improvements for all airports. All aspects of runways were improved, including lighting, signs, physical construction improvements and much more. This allowed for safer travel and increased customer satisfaction throughout the aviation industry. It permitted smaller airports to be more competitive and relevant in the market, since they were eligible for a larger percentage of the grant (not more money in total, but a higher percentage).

 

 

 

                       Now while this act may seem fundamental and basic, this helped shape the airline world that we live in today. The Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 has since been renamed the Airport Improvement Plan but carries a similar purpose. Improvements on airways across the nation make for a much more efficient and safe way to fly. Poor lighting or inadequate markings of taxiways, runways, and aprons can seem like a miniscule item to look at but mitigating the accidents and mishaps that can occur save the aviation industry time, money, and most importantly, lives.

 

References

Airport and airway improvement act. U.S. Department of Transportation. (2016). Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://www.transportation.gov/civil-rights/civil-rights-library/airport-and-airway-improvement-act.

What is AIP? Airports. Overview: What is AIP? – Airports. (2021, March 16). Retrieved October 13, 2021, from https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/overview/.