The
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supports compatible use by coordinating with the DoD on air space (military training routes and restricted areas), through its authority to manage airport transfers, including former military air bases, and cooperating with joint-use military airfields, used by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. In addition, the Air National Guard (ANG) co-uses private and commercial airports, including Martin State Airport in Maryland. The 175th Wing is stationed at
Warfield Air National Guard Base, located at the airport. The ANG is co-located with large, medium, and small commercial airports across the country, at approximately 100 locations. Given the FAA's detailed knowledge of air space, its close relationship with the DoD, and the mixing of commercial, private, and military joint-use at many airports, community planners should include the respective
Regional FAA Office when compatibility issues focus on airspace.
Compatibility Factors relevant to the Federal Highway Administration: Air Quality, Anti-terrorism/Force Protection, Communication/Coordination, Frequency Spectrum Capacity/Impedance/Interference, Infrastructure Extensions, Land/Air Space Competition, Land Use, Legislative Initiatives, Public Services, Roadway Capacity, Safety Zones, Vertical Obstructions
Relevant Programs and Plans
The FAA's
Military Airport Program (MAP) is a grant program that operates under the
Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The FAA awards grants to civil sponsors of existing military airfields and assists
new sponsors in converting former military airfields for public use, which would then expand capacity and reduce congestion
at existing municipal airports. Financial assistance is also available to civilian sponsors who are converting, or have
already converted, military airfields to civilian or joint military/civilian use.
MAP grants may be used for projects that are not generally funded by the AIP, such as building or rehabilitating surface
parking lots, fuel farms, hangars, utility systems, access roads, and cargo buildings. In Maryland, Tipton Airport (once
part of Fort Meade) received a
MAP grant in 2019 to rehabilitate a runway apron to improve safety. More information on eligibility and MAP grants
is in the
FAA Order 5100.38D Change 1, Airport Improvement Program Handbook.
