Definition
A multi-year planning document used by the FAA to identify, prioritize, and schedule airport development projects that are eligible for federal funding under the Airport Improvement Program. It guides how money is allocated for runway, taxiway, lighting, safety, and infrastructure work at public-use airports.
Plain English
A long-range plan that lists which airport upgrades the FAA intends to pay for, in what order, and roughly when.
Context Anchor
Seen in airport planning, airport funding, and FAA administrative material rather than in normal cockpit procedures.
Derivation
‘Capital improvement’ is a standard finance and government term meaning a major, long-lasting upgrade to physical assets — as opposed to routine maintenance. The plan lists those big-ticket airport projects.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing an airport has projects in its ACIP can explain upcoming construction, runway closures, or changes to taxiways and lighting that will affect operations.
Intuition Check
“Capital” does not mean a city that is the seat of government here. It means major long-term airport assets and the money used to improve them.
Example Sentence 1
The proposed runway extension was added to the airport’s ACIP for funding consideration in the next fiscal year.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots reviewing the ACIP could see which taxiway projects might cause temporary closures during construction.