Approved by the Transportation Policy Committee on May 9, 2024
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on June 5, 2024
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 18, 2024 

Policy 

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the continued and increased funding of the Airport Cooperative Research Program for research necessary to improve civil aviation infrastructure systems. ASCE urges that Congress permit Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds to be used for research and development. ASCE advocates for increased investment and strategic allocation of AIP funds to address aviation infrastructure research, development, and implementation.

Issue

Aviation in the United States supports 11.5 million jobs and produces an annual economic output of $1.7 trillion. Airports make up 7.1% of the nation’s workforce and 7.2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). America’s airports also require $151 billion in infrastructure upgrades from 2023 to 2027. Future project investment will allow airports to handle passenger and cargo activity growth, rehabilitate existing facilities, support aircraft innovation, and improve airport security. This investment will be at risk without sound scientific knowledge on new technologies and other civil infrastructure systems at U.S. airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must prioritize its airport technology research enterprise to support its Advisory Circular system in maintaining standards applicable to airport design, construction, maintenance, and operational safety. Additionally, the FAA should support other research opportunities and programs that can improve airport infrastructure design, construction, and management technology.

Rationale

Research from other transportation and infrastructure sectors can provide substantial cost savings applied to airports and supporting infrastructure design, construction specifications, testing procedures, and construction techniques. U.S. airports are independently owned and operated by a diverse collection of government entities, including city, municipal, state, regional, or special authorities, and rely on the FAA for continuing research and development.

ASCE Policy Statement 471
First Approved in 1999  

Other ASCE policies that relate to aviation infrastructure research:
PS 313 - Infrastructure research and innovations
PS 445 - Aviation transportation program
PS 493 - Infrastructure resilience research