The Federal Aviation Administration extended the public comment deadline for the draft Airport Improvement Handbook to Monday, August 31, according to an email from the agency.

In an email to Wingman on Friday, an FAA spokesperson said the 90 day comment period was initially scheduled to end on Monday, August 17. Extending the deadline will allow the agency more time to analyze the handbook and prepare responses. The document serves as the FAA’s guide to employees for implementing Airport Improvement Program grants that align with Airport Funding Rules, the FAA said.

The public comment period is an opportunity for stakeholders in the aviation industry to provide input that could potentially improve the handbook, the FAA said.

The agency established four different avenues for public comment, the order shows. Interested parties and stakeholders can go to https://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the instructions there or email AIPhandbook@faa.gov. 

Hard copies of comments can be mailed to the FAA Office of Airports, Airport Planning and Programming, Routing Symbol APP-540, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20561. Hand deliveries are also accepted at that address between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time Monday through Friday excluding holidays, according to the announcement.

First established in 1982, the Airport Improvement Program serves as a funding guide for airport development, the announcement said. The last handbook Order 5100-38D Change 1, was issued on February 26, 2019, and incorporated legislative updates from 2017.

The current update intends to reflect legal and policy changes such as the 2018 and 2024 Reauthorization Acts. The notice describes the current revisions as “substantial.”

The FAA will review all comments received by the closing date, the notice says. Comments received after the new August 31 deadline may be considered if their inclusion does not delay production of the updated order.

Cover image by Matthew G. Bisanz / CC BY-SA 3.0