The General Accounting Office (GAO), a congressional watchdog agency, said record levels of Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds were spend on security in fiscal 2002 as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. (Washington Report).

Public Works, December, 2002

Representative Don Young (R-Alaska), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, had requested the report.

Young said, "While the committee is pleased that security needs have been met without compromising safety, we remain concerned that future safety and capacity needs of the aviation system not be shortchanged in the drive to improve aviation security.

"As the country climbs out of the recession and fears of terrorism subside, air traffic is likely to increase. We do not want to again see the sort of congestion and delays that plagued the airlines and their passengers in previous years.

"Therefore, it is important that the AIP program continues to have sufficient resources to support airport safety and capacity...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Premium Content Partnership | HighBeam Research provides an in-depth online archive library of reference works.