The Latest From Washington

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Lawmakers Propose to Expand TIFIA For Airports, Reinstate Bond Options to Help Finance Infrastructure

Lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation that would expand TIFIA for more airport-related projects. Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats are exploring other financing options that could help airports build their infrastructure projects.

05/20/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Bill to Expand Deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Introduced in the House

Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Julia Brownley (D-CA) today introduced legislation that seeks to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector by increasing the production and uptake of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), while...

05/20/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: TSA and DOT Issue Joint Statement on Continued Mask Mandate for Transportation

CDC, TSA and DOT issued a joint statement to clarify that mask requirements remain in place for airports, air carriers, and surface transportation.

05/14/2021

Regulatory Alert

Regulatory Alert: DOT Announces $898.9 Million in AIP Grants for 447 Airports

DOT announced the award of $898.9 million in airport infrastructure and safety grants as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

05/13/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Senate Committee Advances COVID-Related and Advanced Air Mobility Legislation

The Senate Commerce Committee met to consider several bills today including two COVID-related bills and one AAM bill. All three bills were favorably reported out of Committee by voice vote and will now advance to the full Senate for...

05/12/2021

Regulatory Alert

Regulatory Alert: FAA Solicits Pre-Applications for Airport Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program

FAA released a notice soliciting pre-applications from eligible airports to participate in the agency’s “Airport Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program,” which provides federal grants for projects that will measurably reduce or mitigate aviation...

05/07/2021

Federal Alert

Security Policy Alert: TSA Monthly Conference Call Summary for May 2021

TSA held its monthly conference call for airport stakeholders, led by Alan Paterno, TSA's Airport Industry Engagement Manager in the office of Policy, Plans and Engagement (PPE). This alert summarizes highlights from the call.

05/06/2021

Federal Alert

Security Policy Alert: TSA Monthly Call Reminder, Information Requested on National Alternative Measure 1542-20-03, and ACC Webinar on PARAS 0028

TSA plans to discuss several items on tomorrow's call, including recent updates to the HSIN, REAL ID, the Rap Back program, a Compliance update, a Safe Skies update, and policy updates, including the status of the National AM 1542-20-03B, which...

05/05/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Travel Restrictions for Republic of India and and Democratic Republic of Congo

The U.S. government has implemented or modified travel restrictions for the Republic of India and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

05/01/2021

Regulatory Alert

Regulatory Alert: FAA Reminds Airports of Deadline to Apply for CRRSAA Airport Coronavirus Response Grants

FAA is reminding airport sponsors that June 30 is the deadline to apply for their share of the $2 billion in grants that have been awarded and made available for airports and eligible concessionaires through the CRRSAA.

04/30/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Face Masks Required in Airports Through September 13, 2021

TSA informed AAAE that they will be extending the requirement for individuals to wear face masks in airports as outlined by SD 1542-21-01A until Sept. 13, 2021, at the direction of the White House COVID-19 Task Force.

04/30/2021

Federal Alert

Security Policy Alert: DHS Extends REAL ID Enforcement Deadline to 2023

DHS Secretary Mayorkas announced that the full enforcement date for REAL ID will be extended once again from October 1, 2021 to May 3, 2023, due to circumstances resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

04/27/2021

Regulatory Alert

Regulatory Alert: EPA Administrator Establishes New Council on PFAS

EPA Administrator Michael Regan issued a memo establishing an “EPA Council on PFAS” (ECP) to help the agency to strategize the best way to use the agency’s authorities, expertise and partnerships to mitigate and reduce the effects from PFAS and...

04/27/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: House Problem Solvers Caucus Introduces Framework for an Infrastructure Package

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan convened a bipartisan Infrastructure Summit of governors, senators and members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus to discuss guiding principles for a federal infrastructure package.

04/23/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Senate Republicans Unveil Counterproposal to Biden Infrastructure Plan

A group of Senate Republicans, led by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), unveiled a basic framework for their counterproposal to President Biden’s $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan.

04/22/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Bipartisan Bill to Gradually Raise PFC Cap Introduced in House

Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) today introduced legislation that proposes to gradually raise the federal cap on local PFCs beginning in 2023.

04/21/2021

Regulatory Alert

Regulatory Alert: FAA to Host Live Qamp;amp;A Webinar on CRSSAA Airport Concessions Relief Grants

FAA Offices of Airports and Civil Rights announced that they will be hosting a webinar event on Apr. 22, at 2 p.m. ET to answer questions on Airport Concessions Relief Grants that have been made available through the CRRSAA.

04/20/2021

Regulatory Alert

Regulatory Alert: AAAE Submits Comments on FAA's Research Efforts to Inform Aircraft Noise Policy

AAAE submitted comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to a request for input on the research activities that the agency is conducting to inform future aircraft noise policy.

04/14/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Senate Confirms Trottenberg as Deputy Secretary of Transportation

The Senate approved Polly Trottenberg, President Biden’s pick to serve as Deputy Secretary of Transportation, by a vote of 82 to 15.

04/13/2021

Airport Alert

Action Alert: Please Ask Your Lawmakers to Support Airport Proposals in Infrastructure Package

As infrastructure talks continue to heat up in Washington, we are urging airports to ask their elected officials to ensure that the next infrastructure package that Congress considers includes much-need funds to help airports of all sizes build criti

04/12/2021

Regulatory Alert

Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Updated FAQ Guidance for Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an updated frequently asked questions (FAQ) document that provides guidance for airport sponsors on how FAA will administer the “Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program” (ACRGP).

04/09/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Administration Releases Outline for its FY22 Discretionary Funding Request

The White House today unveiled the outline for its budget request for discretionary spending in Fiscal Year 2022.

04/09/2021

Airport Alert

Airport Alert: Biden Administration Unveils More Details on Infrastructure Plan

President Biden last week released the American Jobs Plan -- a $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal that calls for $25 billion to upgrade our nation’s aviation system, billions more for transportation and infrastructure projects, and funding for...

04/07/2021

Airport Alert

Action Alert: Please Urge Your House Lawmakers to Support Aviation Security Funding Priorities

We need your help to convince House of Representative lawmakers to fund our aviation security priorities in the upcoming DHS appropriations bill for FY22 and to end the diversion of aviation security fees to pay for deficit reduction.

04/06/2021

Airport Alert

Action Alert: Please Urge Your Lawmakers to Support Airport Priorities in FY22 Appropriations Bills

As Congress prepares to gear up for the FY22 appropriations process, we need your help as we urge lawmakers to increase funding for the AIP, the FAA Contract Tower Program, and adopt other airport priorities in the annual DOT and DHS spending bills.

04/05/2021