Airport Block Grant Program

The State of New Hampshire, through its Department of Transportation Bureau of Aeronautics (Bureau), has been recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) New England Region to be a member of FAA's Airport Block Grant Program (Program). This Program has been in existence in the United States since Congress authorized the pilot program in 1990.

Airport Registration Program

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation/Bureau of Aeronautics is responsible for issuing appropriate registration certificates if it is satisfied that an airport conforms to minimum standards of safety and a safe air traffic pattern is identified. Registration certificates and renewal thereof may be issued subject to any conditions that the Department may deem necessary. It is important for all airport owners to consider registering their new airports with the Department. If for public-use, your airport could be eligible for state and/or federal grant funds for airport improvement projects and airport preservation efforts. Even if registered as a private-use airport, you may be protected from any future legislation passed by your local municipality against the operation of airports. In addition, per New Hampshire state law (RSA 422:28-VI), it is prohibited for any person to operate or permit operation of aircraft on or from any airport for compensation or hire, unless said area is registered with the Department of Transportation/Bureau of Aeronautics. Temporary heliports where commercial aircraft operations are intended, typically established at local events, also must be registered. There is no fee for registering an airport.

• How to Register a New Airport, Heliport or Seaplane Base
  Step by step directions on how to register airports, heliports or seaplane bases.
  Please note that all proposed landing areas must comply with all applicable local zoning ordinances and regulations and shall not violate any local, state or federal laws or regulations in the development and construction of the heliport facilities. Any local, state, or federal permits necessary for the establishment and operation of these heliports are the responsibility of the airport sponsor.
  
• New Airport Registration & Site Certification Application
  Applies to new airport development
• New Airport Registration Application Instructions
  Assistance for the completion of the New Airport Registration Application
• Airport Registration Renewal Form
  Applies to existing, registered airports; must be submitted annually
• Airport Registration Renewal Form Instructions
  Assistance for the completion of the Airport Registration Renewal Form
• Temporary Heliport Application
  For establishing a temporary commercial heliport
• FAA Airport Forms
  Common forms for use by Airports and Airport Consulting Firms

Grants - Federal

NPIAS airports receive federal aid in the form of FAA grant funds. To learn more about applying for an FAA grant as a NPIAS airport, and for the latest forms and instructions, please visit our Airport Block Grant Program page.

Grants - State

New Hampshire Airport Improvement and Maintenance Program

State Fiscal Year 2019 will be the Bureau’s inaugural year of the all new New Hampshire Airport Improvement and Maintenance (AIM) Program. The NH AIM Program will provide New Hampshire’s public-use airports with funding assistance to make needed airport improvements or assist with maintenance efforts. To learn more about the NH AIM Program, how to apply for funding assistance, and for the latest forms and instructions, please visit our NH AIM Program page.

Grants - Other

Funding assistance opportunities exist other than the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program and the state of New Hampshire’s State-Local Airport Grant Program that airport sponsors should also consider. As an example, the federal government has over 2,300 grant programs fulfilling various organizational needs from operations and maintenance to capital improvements and sustainability planning and everything in between. Non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, and charitable foundations also offer funding assistance that may only be available locally thereby narrowing the possible field of eligible applicants. The Bureau of Aeronautics has begun an effort to list funding assistance opportunities that may be of interest to New Hampshire’s airports. This a work in progress and we welcome your feedback to make this resource even more helpful. The one-page introductory information and the more detailed spreadsheet are intended to be used together. To help improve these documents, please e-mail program information to carol.niewola@dot.nh.gov. Grant Possibilities - One Page. Grant Possibility Spreadsheet.

RSA 21-L:8 Aviation Users Advisory Board

The Aviation Users Advisory Board (AUAB) was created in 1986 by the NH Legislature to replace the Aeronautics Commission. The Board's function is to "regularly advise" the Director of the Division of Aeronautics, Rail and Transit on all matters related to the operation of the Bureau of Aeronautics.

AUAB Membership Roster (current as of August 17, 2022)

AUAB 2023 Meeting Schedule (tentative):

• Friday, March 17, 2023 - 10:00 am, NHDOT, Commissioner's Conference Room
• Friday, January 20, 2023 – 10:00 am, NHDOT, Commissioner’s Conference Room - Postponed due to weather.
  

AUAB Meeting Documents:

Friday, December 16, 2022 - Postponed due to weather
September 16, 2022 - AUAB Meeting 09162022
June 17, 2022 - AUAB Meeting 06172022
March 18, 2022 - AUAB Meeting 03182022
December 17, 2021 - AUAB Meeting 12172021
October 8, 2021 - AUABmeeting10082021
March 19, 2021 Meeting - AUABmeeting03192021
December 18, 2020 Meeting - AUABmeeting12182020
September 18, 2020 Meeting - AUABmeeting09182020
June 19, 2020 Meeting - AUABmeeting06192020
January 10, 2020 Meeting - AUABmeeting01102020
November 1, 2019 Meeting - AUABmeeting11012019
June 21, 2019 Meeting - AUABmeeting06212019
March 15, 2019 Meeting - AUABmeeting03152019
December 21, 2018 Meeting - AUABmeeting12212018