The Latest Airport Legislation from Washington
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Announces Deadlines for Use of FY27 AIP Entitlement Funds
FAA announces the deadlines for airport sponsors to submit a notice of intent and final grant application for the use of primary, cargo, and nonprimary entitlement funds that are available under the Airport Improvement Program for fiscal year 2027.
11/05/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Supplemental Proposed Rule to Update PFC Program Regulations
FAA publishes a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) that would make a series of changes to the regulations governing the passenger facility charge (PFC) program.
11/04/2026
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Democrats Flip Senate and House, Ushering in Divided Government in 2027
Washington will enter into a period of divided government in 2027, following the midterm elections, which saw Democrats outperform expectations across the country and secure enough seats to flip both the Senate and House.
11/04/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: AAAE Responds to FAA’s RFI on Spaceports and Launch Corridors
AAAE submits comments in response to the FAA's request for information (RFI) that solicited feedback on the siting of new spaceports and the development and use of prioritized airspace for “critical space launch corridors.”
10/27/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Draft Vertical Flight Design Standards; Announces Virtual Industry Day
FAA releases draft Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5390-4, Vertical Flight Infrastructure Design, which provides updated design standards for facilities serving helicopters, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and other vertical flight aircraft.
10/22/2026
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Senate Leaders Release Bipartisan Permitting and NEPA Reform Bill
Leaders from two key Senate committees release a bipartisan bill that would make significant reforms to the federal environmental review and permitting processes for the purpose of expediting project delivery, including airport infrastructure projects.
09/30/2026
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Aviation Leaders Call for $30B in Modernization Funding
AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli joins DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and other aviation leaders today to urge Congress to provide approximately $30 billion for air traffic control and airport modernization through the proposed Modern Skies Act.
09/28/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: DOT Publishes Final Rule to Update DBE and ACDBE Programs
DOT publishes a final rule that makes further amendments to the regulations governing the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) programs.
09/26/2026
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Senate Committee Approves Two Aviation Safety Bills
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approves two bipartisan aviation safety bills including one aimed at improving airport movement area driver training and another that would require the FAA to equip contract towers with Airborne Position Reference Tools (APRT) that lack STARs radar displays.
09/16/2026
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: FAA Administrator Bedford Appears Before House Funding Panel to Discuss ATC Modernization
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford appears before the House funding subcommittee responsible for writing the agency’s annual budget.
09/15/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases $1.1 Billion in FY26 AIP Grants for Projects at Over 223 Airports
FAA releases a list of $1.1 billion in infrastructure grant awards as part of the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
09/14/2026
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: AAAE Submits Comments on Interim Final Rule on C-UAS Detection and Mitigation Authorities
AAAE submits comments in response to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice’s interim final rule, “Counter-UAS Authority for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) Law Enforcement Agencies and Correctional Agencies.
09/08/2026
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: House Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund Federal Government Until December 11
The House passes the Senate-approved continuing resolution to fund the federal government until December 11.
09/01/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA to Host Industry Day on Private Investment in Airports
FAA announces that the agency will host an industry day event, “America’s Airports: Unleashing Private Investment,” to discuss opportunities for airport sponsors to utilize private investment to fund airport infrastructure projects.
08/21/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases RFI on Space Infrastructure Development and Launch Corridors
FAA releases a request for information (RFI) to solicit feedback from the public on the siting of new spaceports (more formally known as launch and reentry sites) and the development and use of prioritized airspace for “critical space launch corridors.”
08/21/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases $615 Million in FY26 AIP Grants for Projects at Over 232 Airports
FAA releases a list of $615.4 million in infrastructure grant awards as part of the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Airport Improvement Program.
08/20/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: AAAE Submits Comments on Draft FAA AIP Handbook
AAAE submits comments in response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s draft Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Handbook, also known as FAA Order 5100.38E.
08/18/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: D.C. Circuit Affirms EPA’s Rule Designating PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issues a unanimous decision affirming a Biden-era rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that designated two PFAS chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
08/18/2026
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: TSA Deputy Administrator McNeill Departing
Deputy Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill announces that she will be departing from the Transportation Security Administration on September 3.
08/12/2026
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Senate Passes Measure to Fund Federal Government Until December 11
The Senate passes a bipartisan continuing resolution that would fund the federal government until December 11.
08/08/2026
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Senate Confirmed David Cummins to be TSA Administrator
The Senate confirms David Cummins on a vote of 51-47 to be the eighth Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
08/07/2026
Security Alert
AAAE Security Policy Alert: Summary of TSA's August Conference Call for Airport Stakeholders
TSA holds its monthly conference call for airport stakeholders. The conference call was led by Karin Glasgow, Industry Engagement Manager for Airlines in the office of Strategy, Policy & Engagement.
08/06/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau Plans to Depart Agency
FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau announces that he will be departing the agency after next week.
07/30/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Final Rule on Aircraft Altimeter Retrofit Requirements
FAA releases a final rule that requires all legacy aircraft equipped with radio altimeters to upgrade or retrofit their altimeters to ensure they can withstand potential interference from 5G and other advanced wireless signals.
07/25/2026
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Reopens Nominations for Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee
FAA issues a notice soliciting nominations for membership on the Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee.
07/21/2026
