The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) has published in the Federal Register an “Invitation to Comment on Draft FAA Order 5100-38, Airport Improvement Program Handbook” (“Draft AIP Handbook”). 

The Airport Improvement Program (“AIP”) is an airport grant program, pursuant to Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, as amended, 49 U.S.C. § 47101, et seq. (“AAIA”).  The Draft AIP Handbook contains regulations implementing the AIP.  This updated version incorporates substantial changes to the governing statutes, including the recently enacted FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. 

While FAA usually does not solicit comments on what it calls “internal orders” (claiming that the Draft AIP Handbook “contains instructions to FAA employees on implementing the AIP”), FAA recognizes the broad impacts of the Draft AIP Handbook, and the impact on all segments of the airport community of its implementation.  Therefore, FAA is accepting comments until March 18, 2013. 
 

An electronic copy of the Draft AIP Handbook and comment form may be obtained at the FAA Airports Website at http://www.faa.gov/airports/. 

Comments may be submitted by:

Electronic Submittal – by following in the instructions provided at
http://www.faa.gov/airports/

Mail – FAA Office of Airports, Airport Planning and Programming, Routing Symbol APP-501, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Room 619, Washington, DC  20591

Fax – 1-202-267-5302

Hand Delivery – FAA Office of Airports, Airport Planning and Programming, Routing Symbol APP-501, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Room 619, Washington, DC  20591 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.