Definition
An airport classification used by the FAA to designate certain public-use airports that contribute to the air transportation needs of designated regions of significant interstate commerce. Interstate airports are part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) and may be eligible for federal funding.
Plain English
An airport that serves travel and commerce between states, and is recognized by the FAA as part of the national airport system.
Context Anchor
Seen in airport-category and air-transportation discussions when the FAA describes airports, routes, or services that connect different states.
Derivation
From Latin 'inter' meaning 'between' and 'state.' In aviation, the word keeps that core idea: an airport that supports air traffic moving between states, not just within one.
Why Pilots Care
Affects whether the airport qualifies for certain federal funding and how it fits into national aviation planning.
Intuition Check
Interstate does not mean an Interstate highway here. It means aviation activity that crosses or connects U.S. state lines.
Example Sentence 1
The airport's interstate classification made it eligible for federal improvement funding through the NPIAS.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots operating out of interstate airports must follow federal rather than solely state regulations for certain procedures.