Mission Statement

Airports - Northwest Mountain Region

A national system of airports is essential to interstate commerce, international trade and national defense. Airports are a vital part of our basic transportation system - from transporting people to conduct business, to joining families or transporting goods in time to add value to a world economy. With few exceptions, every citizen in the United States is within a 30-minute drive of a public-use airport.
The Airports organization provides leadership and support to the aviation community to plan, develop, and maintain a safe and efficient system of airports. We provide technical and advisory guidance on airport planning and development; we inspect airports to help assure the safety of airport operations; we are responsible for environmental assessments of proposed construction and approval of noise compatibility programs; and we administer the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) program. We also monitor airports to assure protection of the federal investment. We work extensively with airport owners, airport users, the aviation industry, and state and local governments to provide a safe and efficient system of airports for all who fly in the United States of America.