Central Regional Airports Division

The Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) program allows commercial service airports to impose a fee against enplaning passengers for the purpose of funding approved projects at that airport. U.S. Code 49 U.S.C. Section 40117 authorizes the collection of this fee.

Commercial service airports may request authority to impose a PFC of $1, $2, $3, $4 or $4.50 on revenue passengers enplaned at their airport. Commercial service airports are public-use airports that enplane 2,500 or more passengers a year.

Authorized Use of PFC Funds

Airports electing to impose a PFC may use the revenues for one or more of the following:

• Pay all or part of the allowable cost of an FAA approved project
• Pay debt service and financing costs associated with bond issuance
• Combine PFC funds with Federal Grant funds (e.g. AIP) to accomplish an approved project
• Apply PFC funds to meet non-federal share of the cost of projects funded under the Federal Airport Grant Program

PFC Project Eligibility

In order to be considered as an approved project, proposals must meet certain eligibility criteria, as outlined in Federal Regulation 14 CFR Part 158. Section 158.15 states that projects must address one or more of the following:

• Preserve or enhance safety, security, or capacity of the national air transportation system;
• Reduce noise or mitigate noise impacts resulting from an airport; or
• Furnish opportunities for enhanced competition between or among air carriers.

Section 158.17 establishes additional eligibility requirements for those locations wanting to impose fees of $ 4.00 or $ 4.50.

PFC Restrictions

While the PFC program is complementary to Federal airport grant programs, there are limitations and restrictions. Most notably, medium and large hub airports that impose a PFC charge face a reduction in the AIP apportionment funds they would normally receive. Refer to Chapter 1, Section 5 of FAA Order 5500.1 for complete requirements that address reduction of AIP apportionments.

Questions

If you require additional information regarding application of a PFC within the FAA Central Region, please contact the Central Region PFC Specialist.