American Society Of Civil Engineers Says Additional Investment Is Needed

In its annual report on the nation's infrastructure, the American Society Of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gives aviation infrastructure a grade of "D". The report says that the FAA estimates that the national cost of airport congestion and delays was almost $22 billion in 2012. If current federal funding levels are maintained, the FAA anticipates that the cost of congestion and delays to the economy will rise from $34 billion in 2020 to $63 billion by 2040.

According to the report, there are 3,330 existing public use airports and 25 proposed airports in the U.S., which make up the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). NPIAS airports are those which the FAA considers significant to national air transportation and are eligible to receive Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants. Of these airports, 499 accommodate scheduled air carrier service including:

• 29 large hub airports;
• 36 medium hub airports;
• 74 small hub airports;
• 239 nonhub primary airports; and
• 121 nonprimary commercial service airports.

The NPIAS system also includes 2,563 general aviation airports and 268 reliever airports. Airports not included in the NPIAS system include facilities closed to the public or those that do not meet the NPIAS criteria. The total U.S. aviation system includes approximately 617,128 pilots, 222,520 general aviation aircraft, 7,185 air carriers, and a total 19,734 landing areas. Among airports the 29 major hubs play a dominant role in the economy, and the top 15 metropolitan areas with their 35 airports account for 80% of U.S. passenger origins and destination movements, totaling 343 million trips. Similar to passenger travel, freight air shipments are also concentrated in major metro areas, with 70% of domestic air tonnage originating in key metro markets.

The U.S. airport system accommodates more than $562 billion in cargo annually in addition to 728 million passenger enplanements.

General aviation is an important part of the aviation community, the report says, with more than 222,520 aircraft, including business jets, leisure, law enforcement, medical transportation, agricultural services, and others. The FAA notes that between 2000 and 2009, general aviation flight hours dropped nearly 25%, with fuel costs and aviation security changes as the primary reasons. General aviation’s total economic impact was estimated to be $76.5 billion in 2009, down sharply from the $97.2 billion in 2008.

The report estimates that the nation’s airports, including both commercial and general aviation airports, have an estimated $80.1 billion in total projects between 2011 and 2015 that are considered essential by the airport and airport users. With current funding trends, the total gap between anticipated funding and the capital needs projected by airports is about $2.2 billion a year between 2012 and 2020. If the funding needs of NextGen are added, that increases to about $4.3 billion from 2012 to 2020, during the largest implementation phase. Among ways to help close the shortfall suggested by the ASCE are to select a dedicated funding source for implementation of NextGen, such as the existing Aviation Fuel Tax. Avoid any new fees that would compromise the use of the system or public safety; increase or eliminate the cap on the Passenger Facilities Charges (PFCs) to allow airports the flexibility to invest in their own facilities, and; manage the Airport and Airway Trust Fund so as to maximize investment in the nation’s aviation infrastructure and preclude its being used to pay for passenger screening or related security costs.

In a response, the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) President Greg Principato (pictured) and ACI-NA Chairman David N. Edwards, Jr. today issued statements said that the report supports positions championed by the organization.

“It is unfortunate that aviation has again received a failing grade,” said ACI-NA Chairman David N. Edwards, Jr. “This report underscores the need for significant changes in the way that airport infrastructure is funded to accelerate efforts to modernize aging infrastructure and improve the nation’s air traffic control system with NextGen. Both are needed to position U.S. airports to better compete in a global marketplace.”

“On behalf of U.S. airports, I applaud ASCE for conducting such a comprehensive assessment of the nation’s infrastructure,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato. “The report clearly shows that we can no longer rely on the status quo funding system and the time is now to increase or eliminate the cap on the Passenger Facilities Charge (PFC). ACI-NA has long advocated for policies that provide flexible, adequate funding sources for infrastructure improvements needed to ensure the safety and security of air travelers as well as to modernize infrastructure in order to build a competitive future for a competitive nation,” Principato concluded.

An Advisory Council of leading civil engineers appointed by ASCE assigns the grades according to the following eight criteria: capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation.

FMI: www.infrastructurereportcard.org