Airports Orders

Provides guidance to FAA personnel on interpreting and administering the continuing commitments airport sponsors make to the U.S. Government when they accept grants of federal funds or federal property for airport purposes. The handbook (i) analyzes the various federal obligations in legislatively mandated airport sponsor assurances, (ii) addresses the nature of the assurances and the application of the assurances in the operation of public use airports, and (iii) facilitates interpretation of the assurances by FAA personnel. Change 1 (dated 11/22/2021) updates Chapter 1, Scope and Authority; Chapter 9, Unjust Discrimination between Aeronautical Users; Chapter 10, Reasonable Commercial Minimum Standards; Chapter 11, Self-Service; and Chapter 23, Reversions of Airport Property. The FAA will continue to release changes until the entire document is updated.

Provides the basis for implementing SMS within the FAA's Office of Airports (ARP). Describes the roles and responsibilities of ARP management and staff as well as other lines of business that will contribute to the ARP SMS.

Establishes policies and procedures for coordination of airport and highway development between the FAA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to ensure that airport/highway clearances are adequate for the safe movement of air and highway traffic and the expenditure of public funds for airport and highway improvement is in the public interest. This Order cancels Order 5000.3C, dated March 14, 1997.

Supplements Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, and provides information to FAA Airports (ARP) personnel and others interested in fulfilling National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements for airport actions under FAA’s authority. This Order is part of FAA's effort to ensure its personnel have clear instructions to address potential environmental effects resulting from major airport actions.

(Updated 3/14/2008 - Note 3 revised to provide link to most current schedule for Public Housing and Section 8 Program Income Limits.)

Note: The FAA has rescinded Draft Order 5500.1B, Passenger Facility Charge, and withdrawn its request for public comment. All comments received prior to November 4, 2016, will be placed in public Docket FAA 2016-9346 and retained for future consideration.