The Aeronautics Division assists the public-owned airports in developing a safe and effective air transportation system in the state. The state owns no airports, all are locally owned by cities, counties or airport authorities.

The division provides technical, administrative and financial assistance to airport owners for federal and state funded construction projects. In fiscal year 2007, funding grants were issued for projects with a total cost of $39,000,000 including $915,000 in state funds which represented 50% of the local share. The remaining funds were provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. Funding for the state’s share of the projects and the Aeronautics Division staff comes from a percentage of aviation fuel sales and the sales tax from automobile parking lots at airports.

In addition to these state & federal projects, the division issued 18 grants in the amount of $3,648,844 under the Multi-modal Transportation Improvement Fund, with funds provided by MDOT.

Other responsibilities include annual safety inspections of airports, publishing the annual State Aeronautical Chart, maintaining a State Airport System Plan and updating individual airport layout plans. The division provides funds to the Civil Air Patrol, reviews proposed towers for potential airspace conflicts and represents MDOT for aviation matters in national organizations.

This division has a four member staff.

Aeronautics Forms

Tommy Booth, Aeronautics Divsion Director Administration Building, 5th Floor Phone: 601-359-7850 Fax: 601-359-7855