As an authorizing agency, the FAA manages surplus property transfers for airports, military base conversions, and the promotion of joint-use of existing military air bases. It also administers the Military Airport Program (MAP).

• Joint Civilian/Military (Joint-Use) Airports
• Surplus Property and Military Base Conversions for Airport Purposes

What is the Military Airport Program?

The Military Airport Program (MAP) is a grant set-aside from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

Through this program, FAA awards grant funds to the civil sponsor of a military airfield for the development of aviation facilities for the public. This program also assists new sponsors with converting former military airfields to public use to add system capacity and reduce congestion at existing airports experiencing significant delays. This program also assists new sponsors with converting former military airfields to public use to add system capacity, and reduce congestion at existing airports experiencing significant delays.

To aid in this process, MAP grants may be used for projects not generally funded by the AIP, such as building or rehabilitating surface parking lots, fuel farms, hangars, utility systems, access roads, and cargo buildings.

Under the MAP, the FAA may designate up to 15 joint-use or former military airports to participate each fiscal year. Three of the 15 airports may be general aviation (GA) airports. The remaining 12 must be commercial service or reliever airports. Previously designated airports may apply for redesignation for an additional term.

The FAA administers the MAP in accordance with FAA Order 5100.38D Change 1, Airport Improvement Program Handbook.

Applying for the FY 2026 Military Airport Program

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. §§ 47118(a) and (g) and 47105(b)(2), sponsors eligible to participate in the MAP must be current or former military airports included in the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) meeting the following criteria:

• A commercial service or general aviation airport that is a former military installation closed or realigned under-
  • section 2687 of title 10 (announcement of closures of large Department of Defense (DOD) installations after September 30, 1977);
  • section 201 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
  • section 2905 of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note);
• A commercial service airport that is a military installation with both military and civil aircraft operations (civilian sponsors of joint-use airports); or
• A commercial service airport that is-
  • a former military installation that, at any time after December 31, 1965, was owned and operated by the Department of Defense; and
  • a nonhub primary airport.

How to Apply?

1. Read Criteria and Application Procedures for the Military Airport Program (MAP) for Fiscal Year 2026 (PDF).
2. Complete the Military Airport Program (MAP) Application (PDF).
   • Also complete the MAP Application Supplement (PDF) if your application includes more than 3 projects.
3. Submit the application and supporting documentation to the appropriate Airports District Office (ADO) (or Regional Office (RO) (if there is no ADO) during the open application period.

Deadline

The FY 2026 deadline is January 12, 2026.

Past MAP Designees

• 2021 MAP Designees (PDF)
• 2019 MAP Designees (PDF)
• 2018 MAP Designees (PDF)