America’s aviation infrastructure plays a crucial role in the efficiency and reliability of the nation’s air transportation system.
Unfortunately, a combination of aging infrastructure, limited funding, and increased passenger demand has resulted in numerous flight delays and cancellations across the country. While recent efforts have aimed to address these issues, substantial work remains to bring America’s aviation infrastructure up to par with international standards.
The Infrastructure Challenge
U.S. airports received a grade of D+ in the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting severe deficiencies in capacity and overall infrastructure quality.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger traffic was increasing steadily—from 964.7 million in 2017 to 1.2 billion in 2019. However, the capacity of airports, measured in available flights and infrastructure, did not grow at the same pace. The growth in passenger traffic, combined with aging terminals and runways, led to over 95 million minutes of flight delays for passengers in 2019 alone.
The ASCE pointed to several key factors that contribute to flight delays and cancellations:
- Airport Capacity Limitations: The U.S. currently has over 3,300 public-use airports, but only about 520 of those handle commercial service. Of those, a large proportion are general aviation airports not designed for high volumes of commercial traffic. Terminal, gate, and runway availability often do not meet growing demand, causing congestion, delays, and disruptions.
- Aging Infrastructure: Much of America’s airport infrastructure needs modernization. Many terminals, constructed decades ago, require extensive renovation to meet modern standards of safety, capacity, and efficiency. This lag in infrastructure updates contributes significantly to delays, especially during peak travel periods.
- Inadequate Funding: The funding mechanisms for U.S. airports have not kept pace with the rising demand. The Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), a primary source of airport funding, has been capped at $4.50 since 2000, limiting the financial capacity of airports to invest in significant upgrades. Similarly, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) has been stagnant at $3.35 billion annually for over a decade.
- Weather-Related Issues and Air Traffic Control: Weather is a major contributor to delays, but air traffic control inefficiencies exacerbate these disruptions. The FAA’s transition to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is meant to improve efficiency and capacity by shifting from a radar-based system to a satellite-based one. However, NextGen implementation has taken longer than expected, resulting in a continued reliance on outdated technology.
Impacts on Passengers and Airlines
The ripple effects of infrastructure limitations are felt by passengers and airlines alike. Airlines often face increased costs due to the need to reroute flights or accommodate passengers affected by cancellations and delays. Passengers, on the other hand, experience frustration and disruptions to their travel plans. The increase in delay times from 65.8 million minutes in 2017 to 95.8 million minutes in 2019 indicates that the problem has been worsening, with on-time performance dropping from 80.1% to 79.2% over the same period.
Efforts to Address the Infrastructure Gaps
To tackle these challenges, several initiatives and funding mechanisms have been proposed or implemented:
- Increased Federal Funding: The federal government has responded by increasing airport funding through supplemental AIP funding and COVID-19 relief packages. For example, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 provided an additional $12 billion in direct aid to airports, which has been crucial for maintaining operations during the pandemic downturn.
- Raising or Eliminating the PFC Cap: Advocacy groups and some policymakers have called for raising or eliminating the PFC cap, which would allow airports to collect more revenue directly from passengers to invest in needed infrastructure improvements. This would provide a significant boost to airport development projects, particularly in terminal and runway expansion.
- NextGen Implementation: The FAA’s NextGen program aims to modernize air traffic control systems to reduce delays and improve routing efficiency. Although implementation has been slower than expected, NextGen has already demonstrated benefits, such as reducing fuel consumption and enhancing safety through better navigation capabilities.
- Public-Private Partnerships (P3s): Some airports have explored public-private partnerships to raise capital for infrastructure projects. For instance, the $4 billion renovation of LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B in New York was funded through a P3 arrangement, serving as a model for other airports considering similar approaches.
What’s Next?
Despite these efforts, long-term solutions require consistent investment and strategic planning. The ASCE estimates that there is a $111 billion funding shortfall for U.S. airports over the next decade. Addressing this gap is essential not only for reducing delays and cancellations but also for ensuring that the aviation sector can support economic growth and global competitiveness.
GPRS Services Support Airport Infrastructure Improvements
The state of America’s aviation infrastructure is a critical factor behind the rising number of flight delays and cancellations. With passenger demand outpacing capacity and funding levels stagnant, significant challenges remain. However, recent federal investments and ongoing modernization efforts, like the implementation of the NextGen system, offer hope that the nation’s aviation infrastructure will improve in the coming years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of informational output is provided when GPRS conducts a utility locate?
Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.
GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor. Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.
What types of concrete scanning are there?
GPRS provides two specific but different scanning services: elevated concrete slab scanning and concrete slab-on-grade locating. Elevated concrete slab scanning involves detecting embedded electrical conduits, rebar, post-tension cables, and more before core drilling a hole through the slab. Performing a concrete slab-on-grade locating service typically involves scanning a trench line for conduits before conducting saw cutting and trenching to install a sanitary pipe, water line, or something similar.
