What is the purpose of a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in airport planning?

• A. To manage daily maintenance activities
• B. To plan, prioritize, and fund long-term infrastructure projects and facility improvements
• C. To set annual staffing levels
• D. To regulate airline pricing

Answer: (B)

A Capital Improvement Program focuses on long-term capital planning for airport infrastructure and facilities. It is about identifying future needs, evaluating their urgency and impact, and securing funding to implement them over multiple years. Projects typically include runway and taxiway work, terminal expansions or upgrades, security systems, airfield electrical and IT upgrades, and major utility improvements. The CIP lays out project descriptions, cost estimates, funding sources, phasing, and milestones, ensuring scarce capital is allocated to the highest-priority needs and that projects align with the airport’s master plan and regulatory requirements. It also integrates with funding opportunities such as grants, bonds, and passenger facility charges. Daily maintenance or staffing decisions, and airline pricing regulation, are handled in different planning or regulatory contexts, not within the CIP.