Why Airport Investment Readiness Matters Right Now
The New Funding Reality
Across the United States, general aviation airports are the backbone of regional economies. They support jobs, commerce, public safety, and community connectivity. Yet despite their critical role, many of these airports are facing an unsettling truth: the funding model that sustained them for decades is no longer enough.
The Funding Gap Widens
The FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) covers less than 30% of systemwide capital needs—and nearly 90% of those dollars flow to large commercial hubs. For general aviation (GA) airports, that leaves a shrinking pool of discretionary grants, and the competition for those dollars has grown fierce.
Broadly, public sector funding has become increasingly unpredictable and competitive. Compliance and eligibility are no longer box‑checking exercises; they’re quickly becoming decisive factors in an era where efficiency and accountability drive federal funding decisions.
“There are trillions of dollars in underinvestment across the system, and we’re only funding about $4 billion every five years. When [the current AIP bill] expires in 2029, a lot of airports are going to be in real trouble.”
- FAA Regional Compliance & Planning Manager
The implication is clear: GA airports cannot afford to approach funding the way they used to.
The Rules Have Changed
The FAA does not allocate AIP funds based on need alone; it awards dollars based on risk, speed, and confidence that projects will be started on time. In the past, airports that covered their local match and avoided tenant complaints often advanced projects with little scrutiny. That era has ended.
Today, airport sponsors and directors must demonstrate that their airport is a prudent investment. A sophisticated approach to financial feasibility—built directly into the Airport Capital Improvement Plan—has become essential to attracting both public and private sector capital.
Why Capstone Aero Was Born
For too long, financial planning in the airport sector has been based on incomplete, flawed, and biased data—because that’s all that was available. Often financial feasibility was left to engineers. This left airports vulnerable, reactive, and often unprepared to compete for funds.
Capstone Aero was founded to change that reality. We imagined an intelligent, system-wide data engine—one that would empower airports to become self-sustainable, investment-ready, and future-proof.
That vision became our Airport Investment Readiness (AIR) Program.
The Capstone Aero Approach
Our phased AIR Program provides airports with a structured, FAA-aligned pathway to demonstrate financial credibility and strengthen their competitive position for funding.
The program directly supports requirements outlined in Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B, Chapter 12, which calls for financial feasibility to be fully integrated into master planning and capital improvement programs.
With Capstone Aero, rate structures, revenue forecasts, and capital plans are not only compliant—they’re investment-grade. This alignment reduces risk, signals readiness to absorb funds quickly, and significantly increases the probability of winning discretionary AIP grants.
Why It Matters
When airports adopt this approach, they:
Improve Grant Competitiveness – by demonstrating compliance, readiness, and financial discipline.
Build FAA Confidence – by proving that projects are feasible, documented, and ready for execution.
Unlock New Capital – by positioning themselves to capture discretionary AIP dollars and attract private investment aligned with federal standards.
The Bottom Line
The days of applying for funding first and scrambling to secure a local match or bond later are over. Rising costs, shrinking funding, and stricter efficiency standards mean compliance and financial readiness are now prerequisites, not afterthoughts.
“In 2026, there may be opportunities to bring more market forces into infrastructure decisions. Nobody is going to find $338 billion, so we have to think differently.”
- House Aviation Subcommittee Chair, U.S. House of Representatives
Capstone Aero helps airports to do exactly that… to think differently. With our AIR Program, your airport isn’t just compliant—it’s investment-ready.
Ready to Compete in the New Funding Reality?
Let’s talk about how your airport can strengthen its financial credibility and secure the funding it needs to thrive.
