VAI urges FAA to ensure that airport investment includes vertical flight, emerging technologies In comments on proposed revisions to the Airport Improvement Program Handbook, the association asks that airport-grant guidance reflect the full range of aircraft and facilities operating or soon to be operating within the National Airspace System. By Amber Harrison Federal airport investment should reflect the entire aviation system, including facilities that support helicopters, emerging technology, and other vertical flight operations, not just fixed-wing aviation. In this vein, VAI has submitted comments on the FAA’s proposed revisions to the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Handbook, encouraging the agency to ensure that its grant guidance recognizes the needs of heliports, small airports, and emerging aviation infrastructure. Among other recommendations, VAI urged the FAA to: • Clearly recognize the eligibility and infrastructure needs of heliports and other vertical flight facilities • Apply AIP funding criteria consistently and equitably across airport types • Provide sufficient flexibility to address safety-critical projects at small and specialized facilities • Accommodate emerging infrastructure needs associated with new aviation technologies • Support investments in localized weather-observation and weather-reporting capabilities where improved weather information would enhance operational safety. The AIP Handbook does more than guide administrative decisions; it influences which aviation facilities can modernize, improve safety, and remain connected to the communities they serve. As aviation evolves, federal infrastructure policy must evolve with it. A technology-neutral and forward-looking approach will help ensure that vertical aviation is fully considered in the next generation of airport investment. Amber Harrison is VAI’s director of regulatory affairs. Hi, I'm Jay Clark
