Mission and Vision Statements
The Role of the State and the FAA

Mission Statement:

The Division of Aeronautics assists in the development and preservation of a safe and environmentally compatible air transportation system that meets the economic needs of the State by:

• Inspecting airports and heliports for compliance with safety standards, and performing other safety functions. Providing airports with technical assistance in airport design, maintenance, and administration. 
• Developing and updating a plan that coordinates the State's aviation system.
• Providing State grants and loans to cities, counties, districts, and airport land use commissions (ALUCs) for airport development, pavement maintenance, and preparation of airport land use compatibility plans.
• Administering California Airport Noise Program regulations, reviewing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents for projects at or near airports, and technical assistance to ALUCs so the environmental impact of airports is minimized.

Vision:

Develop a system of airports that will meet the majority of needs of the aviation community and the general public; and do so in a manner that provides safe, efficient, economically beneficial and environmentally compatible facilities within our available resources.

The Division of Aeronautics's primary stakeholders are:

• The Legislature
• Individuals and businesses that purchase fuel for use in general aviation (GA) aircraft 
• The Federal Aviation Administration 
• The California Transportation Commission 

The Division of Aeronautics's primary customers are:

• Airport Proprietors and Managers
• Airport neighbors 
• Airport users 
• The general public

What are the differences between the  State and Federal Roles in Aviation?

State Aviation Roles

The California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, works in concert with the FAA to enhance airport safety, encourage compatible land uses around airports, and increase individual airport capabilities and enhance system capacity.

Taxes.

The State collects 18¢/gallon on avgas and 2¢/gallon on jet fuel that is used in GA aircraft. These excise taxes are used to fund the Division of Aeronautics and grants to airports. Other taxes are collected on aviation, but the receipts go to state and local general funds, and school districts.

Safety.

The Division of Aeronautics performs many functions which are not the FAA's responsibility:

• Permit and inspect 252 public-use and 58 special-use airports. Under contract for the FAA, the Division conducts federal Airport Master Record safety inspections at more than 223 public-use airports as part of the Division's periodic airport permit compliance and safety inspection program.
• Permit and inspect 143 hospital and 329 other special-use heliports. Conducts a periodic permit compliance and safety inspection program for hospital heliports.
• Authorize helicopter landings at or within 1000 feet of schools (K-12). 
• Evaluate the acquisition (i.e. construction) of proposed schools (K-12), community colleges, and State buildings within two miles of an airport runway.

Land Use.

Two segments of the State Aeronautics Act establish procedures to encourage compatible land uses around airports. An airport land use compatibility plan (ALUCP) is required for every public use airport. The ALUCP, which is prepared by local government, identifies appropriate uses for the area near the airport with noise and safety as the primary considerations. California law also establishes standards for aircraft-generated noise around airports. The standards require airports that are designated as having a "noise problem" to achieve a noise impact area of zero (which means there are no incompatible land uses within the 65dB CNEL contour). Noise problem airports that have not achieved zero must apply to the State for a variance from the standards. Through the variance process, the State requires the airport to develop and implement strategies to reduce the noise impact area to zero. Ten airports are designated "noise problem airports," which include the nine largest commercial facilities plus Van Nuys Airport. At the end of 2002, San Francisco International Airport achieved a zero noise impact area and, therefore, no longer requires a variance. The FAA provides assistance in efforts to mitigate aircraft noise impacts in two ways: (1) It has mandated quieter jet aircraft, and (2) It awards AIP grants and allows PFCs to fund noise mitigation projects near airports.

Planning.

The Division of Aeronautics develops the California Aviation System Plan (CASP) and assists regional transportation planning agencies (RTPAs) in their aviation planning. Elements are: Policy; CIP; Requirements; Inventory/Forecast.

Local Assistance.

Three grant programs and a loan program are administered by the State. Low interest loans are available to publicly owned airports to match FAA grants and to construct revenue-generating projects (e.g., hangars). Three types of State grants are available to publicly owned, public use airports. Non-Commercial Service airports can receive a State grant in an amount equal to 5% of an FAA grant to apply towards the 10% local match. Until December 31, 2006, the State may fund all of the local match for security projects at GA airports with less than 80,000 annual operations. The State funds maintenance, capital improvements and ALUCP preparation through its Acquisition and Development (A&D) grants. The goal of A&D grants is to complement the FAA's priorities (safety and capacity) by focusing on maintenance. The A&D grants fund: (1) Projects for the 30+ publicly owned airports that are not eligible for FAA grants, (2) Projects that have a higher relative priority with the State than with the FAA, and (3) Projects that complement work under FAA grants. The Annual Credit provides $10,000 to airports for operation, maintenance and minor improvements. This credit is not awarded to Reliever and Commercial Service airports.

What is the role of the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration in State Aviation?

Federal Aviation Roles

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the federal agency with primary responsibility for aviation matters. International air service, economic regulation of airlines and accident investigation are handled by other units within the federal Department of Transportation (DOT). Congress transferred transportation security after the events of September 11, 2001 from the FAA to the newly-created Transportation Security Administration (TSA), within the Department of Homeland Security.

Airspace.

By federal law, the FAA controls all of the nation's airspace; e.g., once an airplane leaves the ground it must operate under FAA's rules. The FAA operates the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, an extensive network of navigational equipment and facilities, flight control centers and air traffic controllers, to ensure safe, reliable air transportation for both general aviation (GA) and scheduled airline service.

Safety and Security.

The FAA develops and enforces safety standards for all aircraft, pilots, flight crews and mechanics. It administers an ongoing aviation safety program to assure the highest possible level of pilot proficiency. It issues standards for the construction of airports and heliports. Commercial Service airports are routinely inspected by the FAA to ensure compliance with its safety regulations. TSA is the federal employer of baggage screeners and manager of security programs at Commercial Service airports. TSA is also developing security guidelines for smaller General Aviation airports.

Taxes.

The federal government collects several excise taxes which support the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. The Trust Fund supports a variety of grant programs as well as much of the FAA's operations. The taxes are: 7.5% on airline tickets (plus a segment fee), 6.25% on air cargo, 19.3¢/gal. on aviation gasoline, 18.3¢/gal. on noncommercial jet fuel, 4.3¢/gal.on scheduled airlines, and fees for international arrivals and departures. Commercial Service airports can also collect a passenger facility charge (PFC) which can be as much as $4.50 per passenger. These funds can only be spent with prior approval from the FAA.

Local Assistance.

The FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides grants to airports in several categories: Large Commercial Service airports; General Aviation (GA) airports; noise mitigation; small commercial service airports; system planning; military airports (for conversion to civilian use); discretionary funds for safety and capacity; and entitlements. Allocations for entitlements to Commercial Service airports with more than 10,000 passenger enplanements per year are based upon the level of passenger and air cargo activity at those airports. AIR-21 authorized entitlements (up to $150,000 annually) to GA and Reliever airports, based upon identified needs in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Eligibility for AIP grants is restricted to airports that have been included in the NPIAS. Due to policy and workload considerations, the FAA is not able to fund all needed projects at eligible airports, especially if the project is relatively small and/or primarily for maintenance purposes. For discretionary grants, the FAA's top two priorities are safety and increasing capacity. The federal government also provides financial and technical assistance to airport proprietors for noise reduction planning and abatement activities and, working with the private sector, conducts continuing research into noise abatement technology.

Organization Chart

Functional Organization Chart

California Airports List