---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 49102"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "49102"
heading: "Purpose"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/49102"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part D — Public Airports"
  - "Chapter 491 — Metropolitan Washington Airports"
---

# §49102. Purpose

- (a) **General.—** The purpose of this chapter is to authorize the transfer of operating responsibility under long-term lease of the 2 Metropolitan Washington [Airport properties](/usc/49/47301.md?p=1) as a unit, including access highways and other related facilities, to a properly constituted independent [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) authority created by Virginia and the District of Columbia, in order to achieve local control, management, operation, and development of these important transportation assets.
- (b) **Inclusion of Baltimore/Washington International Airport Not Precluded.—** This chapter does not prohibit the [Airports Authority](/usc/49/49103.md?p=1) and Maryland from making an agreement to make Baltimore/Washington International [Airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) part of a regional [airports authority](/usc/49/49103.md?p=1), subject to terms agreed to by the [Airports Authority](/usc/49/49103.md?p=1), the Secretary of Transportation, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 105–102, § 2(26), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2207.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 49102(a) | (uncodified). | Oct. 18, 1986, Pub. L. 99–500, title VI, § 6003(a), 100 Stat. 1783–374. |
|  |  | Oct. 30, 1986, Pub. L. 99–591, title VI, § 6003(a), 100 Stat. 3341–377. |
| 49102(b) | (uncodified). | Oct. 18, 1986, Pub. L. 99–500, title VI, § 6003(b), 100 Stat. 1783–374. |
|  |  | Oct. 30, 1986, Pub. L. 99–591, title VI, § 6003(b), 100 Stat. 3341–377. |

In subsection (b), the words “and conditions” are omitted as being included in “terms”.

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 49102 was renumbered section 50102 of this title.