---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 47146"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "47146"
heading: "General aviation program runway extension pilot program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/47146"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part B — Airport Development and Noise"
  - "Chapter 471 — Airport Development"
  - "Subchapter I — Airport Improvement"
---

# §47146. General aviation program runway extension pilot program

- (a) **Establishment.—** The Secretary of Transportation shall establish and carry out a pilot program to provide grants to [general aviation airports](/usc/49/47102.md?p=8) to increase the usable runway length capability at such [airports](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) in order to—
  - (1) expand access to such [airports](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) for larger [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6); and
  - (2) support the development and economic viability of such [airports](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9).
- (b) **Grants.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** For the purpose of carrying out the pilot program established in [subsection (a)](#a), the Secretary shall make grants to not more than 2 [sponsors](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26) of [general aviation airports](/usc/49/47102.md?p=8) per fiscal year.
  - (2) **Use of funds.—** A [sponsor](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26) of a [general aviation airport](/usc/49/47102.md?p=8) shall use a grant awarded under this section to plan, design, or construct a [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) to extend an existing primary runway by not greater than 1,000 feet in order to accommodate large turboprop or turbojet [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) that cannot be accommodated with the existing runway length.
  - (3) **Eligibility.—** To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a [sponsor](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26) of a [general aviation airport](/usc/49/47102.md?p=8) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
  - (4) **Selection.—** In selecting an applicant for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize [projects](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) that demonstrate that the existing runway length at the [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) is—
    - (A) inadequate to support the near-term operations of 1 or more business entities operating at the [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) as of the date of submission of such application;
    - (B) a direct [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) operational impediment to [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) economic viability, job creation or retention, or local economic development; and
    - (C) not located within 20 miles of another National Plan of Integrated [Airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) Systems [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) with comparable runway length.
- (c) **Project Justification.—** A [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) that demonstrates the criteria described in [subsection (b)](#b) shall be considered a justified cost with respect to the pilot program, notwithstanding—
  - (1) any benefit-cost analysis required under [section 47115(d)](/usc/49/47115.md?p=d); or
  - (2) a [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) justification determination described in section 3 of [chapter 3](/usc/49/chstI/ch3.md) of FAA Order 5100.38D, [Airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) Improvement Program Handbook (dated September 30, 2014) (or any successor document).
- (d) **Federal Share.—** The Government’s share of allowable [project costs](/usc/49/47102.md?p=18) for a [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) carried out with a grant under this section shall be the Government’s share of allowable [project costs](/usc/49/47102.md?p=18) specified under section 47109.
- (e) **Report to Congress.—** Not later than 5 years after the establishment of the pilot program under [subsection (a)](#a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that evaluates the pilot program, including—
  - (1) information regarding the level of applicant interest in grants for increasing runway length;
  - (2) the number of large [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) that accessed each [general aviation airport](/usc/49/47102.md?p=8) that received a grant under the pilot program in comparison to the number of such [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) that accessed the [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) prior to the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, based on data provided to the Secretary by the [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) [sponsor](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26) not later than 6 months before the submission date described in this subsection; and
  - (3) a description, provided to the Secretary by the [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) [sponsor](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26) not later than 6 months before the submission date described in this subsection, of the economic development opportunities supported by increasing the runway length at [general aviation airports](/usc/49/47102.md?p=8).
- (f) **Funding.—** For each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028, the Secretary may use funds under [section 47116(b)(2)](/usc/49/47116.md?p=b-2) to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–63, title VII, § 726(a), May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1269.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, referred to in subsec. (e)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 118–63, which was approved May 16, 2024.