Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Updated Airport Compliance Manual

February 20, 2026

Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an update to FAA Order 5190.6, known as the “Airport Compliance Manual,” which is an important reference document for airport sponsors on how they are expected to comply with their federal grant assurances. The revisions include updates to ten chapters in the manual, focusing on exclusive rights, aeronautical lease agreements, noise and access restrictions, restrictions based on safety and efficiency procedures, revenue diversion, compatible land use, and land use changes.

The release today is part of a broader effort of the FAA Office of Airports to update the entire Airport Compliance Manual, which had not been fully updated since 2009. The process of updating the entire manual began in 2021, and this is the fourth and final update to the document. In the foreword, FAA explained that the updated manual does not contain any new policy changes, and the agency will continue to seek public comment before any policy changes are made on compliance issues. Nevertheless, we encourage our members to review the manual and inform us of any issues or concerns.

You can view the updated Airport Compliance Manual here, including the complete manual, individual chapters, a summary of updates, and a section renumbering and retitling chart.

Background. As airports are aware, the Airport Compliance Manual is an important reference document for FAA personnel and the industry on how airport sponsors are expected to comply with grant assurances in FAA grant agreements and from deeds of property conveyance for airport use. Beginning in 2021, FAA has been reviewing and updating the entire manual to ensure it is up to date and aligned with new or revised federal statutes, regulations, or orders that have been enacted or revised since 2009. The updates are not intended to include changes in compliance policy.

Highlights of Changes. The release of FAA Order 5190.6C today includes revisions to ten different chapters (Chapters 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22) and general edits throughout the document. The other chapters had already been updated between 2021 and 2023. AAAE encourages members to review the summary of changes document that FAA published, which can be viewed here. Updates to the manual include:

Providing a broader discussion on the permissible types of contractual arrangements that an airport sponsor may execute to manage and/or develop the airport (Section 6.8);
Adding language that if an airport sponsor repeatedly ignores Runway Safety Action Team safety recommendations or establishes a nonstandard air traffic pattern to mitigate aircraft noise, the sponsor may violate Grant Assurance 19 (Section 7.11);
Clarifying that for purposes of an aircraft owner or operator’s right to self-service, refueling includes aviation gasoline (Avgas), Jet A fuel, electric charging, and other fueling sources (Section 8.7.b);
Clarifying that the prohibition on exclusive rights extends to all aeronautical activities (Section 8.2);
Reiterating that FAA is reviewing its noise policy and policy on airport noise compatibility planning and will conduct a more detailed review of its discussion on noise and access restrictions at a later date (Section 13.3);
Adding language that at federally obligated airports, only the FAA Office of Airports (not the sponsor) may approve, disapprove, and determine the reasonableness of aeronautical restrictions (Section 14.3);
Clarifying that FAA expects an airport sponsor to make reasonable efforts to oppose a zoning proposal that introduces an incompatible land use near or adjacent to an airport (Section 20.5.a);
Adding a new section to restate FAA’s policy that accommodating people experiencing homelessness on and adjacent to federally obligated airports is an incompatible land use (Section 20.8); and
Significantly rewriting the chapter focusing on land use changes and the release of federally acquired and conveyed land, which reflects FAA’s land use change policy released in 2023 (Chapter 22).

Notable Exclusions. The updated manual may be more noteworthy for what is not included rather than what it is included. FAA asserts that the manual does not include any major policy changes on compliance issues. Based on our initial review, the manual also appears to avoid two major topics:

First, FAA did not modify the definition of “aeronautical activity” to include unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), advanced air mobility (AAM), and commercial space launch or re-entry vehicle operations. FAA had proposed amending the definition in late 2023, but AAAE and our airport members raised concerns with FAA. This included ensuring that airport sponsors had flexibility to make their own decisions regarding the accommodation of AAM operators.
Second, FAA did not address two of the grant conditions that were incorporated into FAA grant agreements in 2025, including the requirements for sponsors to (a) certify they do not operate a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program that violates federal law and (b) cooperate with federal officials on, and not impede, the enforcement of federal immigration laws. We would note that the condition relating to immigration enforcement was removed from the agreements late last year.