General Aviation: A Market Ready for Growth

One of the greatest opportunities for growing concrete pavement markets may be sitting in plain sight in nearly every community across America.

General aviation (GA) airports are much more than places where airplanes land and take off. They are economic engines that connect rural communities to the national economy, support local businesses, attract investment, provide emergency services, train the next generation of pilots, and create jobs. As Congress recently recognized during a House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearing on connecting rural America, these airports are critical infrastructure that deserves continued investment.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves captured it well when he noted that airports whether serving commercial passengers or general aviation are “pillars of communities that drive economic growth and improve quality of life.” Likewise, Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls reminded Congress that airports are far more than transportation facilities; they are economic engines supporting jobs, businesses, and communities across the country. For the more than 46 million Americans living in rural communities, these airports provide essential access to the national transportation system and help sustain local economies.

The opportunity is significant.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems includes nearly 3,300 public-use airports eligible for federal investment through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides approximately $4 billion annually for airport infrastructure improvements, including runways, taxiways, and aprons.

As stewards of taxpayer dollars, we should continually ask a simple question:

How can those dollars deliver the longest-lasting return?

For many GA airports, concrete overlays deserve serious consideration.

Concrete overlays can extend pavement life, reduce long-term maintenance costs, minimize operational disruptions, and allow airports to stretch limited infrastructure dollars further. Rather than viewing pavement improvements as another maintenance expense, airport owners and decision-makers should view concrete overlays as long-term infrastructure investments that maximize the value of every federal and local dollar invested.

This represents exactly the kind of opportunity ACPA is working to advance.

On July 21, ACPA and the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center will host a Tech Tuesday webinar focused on concrete overlays for GA airports. The program will highlight current research, engineering considerations, and successful applications while exploring how airport owners can make smarter, longer-lasting infrastructure investments.

I encourage our members and industry partners to participate not only to learn the technical aspects of concrete overlays, but also to think about how we collectively promote these solutions in our own states. Every airport represents an opportunity to improve infrastructure, strengthen local economies, and expand concrete pavement markets.

That is the mindset that will continue driving ACPA forward: taking outstanding technical work and translating it into promotion, advocacy, and measurable market growth. Included in this week’s newsletter is an article from ACPA’s Spring 2025 magazine on successful use of thinner concrete pavements at general aviation airports.

Cheers!

Save the Date – Upcoming ACPA National Events and Chapter/State Association Workshops:

Stay up to date on upcoming industry events with ACPA’s Calendar of Events. To submit your event details, please contact Vickie Spielman at vspielman@acpa.org.

October 27-29, 2026       ACPA Airport Workshop, Phoenix, AZ
December 1-3, 2026        ACPA Annual Meeting, Hollywood, FL
December 14-15, 2026   ACPA-SE and CRMCA Count on Concrete Conference, Raleigh, NC
January 11, 2027              ACPA TRB Reception, Washington, DC
January 13-14, 2027        ND Ready Mix & ND ACPA Annual Convention, Bismark, ND
February 2-3, 2027          New York State Concrete Paving Conference, Clifton Park, NY
February 3-5, 2027          63rd ICPA Annual Concrete Paving Workshop, Des Moines, IA
February 9-10, 2027        South Dakota Concrete Conference, Sioux Falls, SD
February 11-12, 2027      WCPA Annual Concrete Pavement Conference, Oshkosh, WI
February 11, 2027            Indiana Chapter ACPA 2027 PCCP Workshop, Indianapolis, IN
February 14-27, 2027     KCA 2027 Annual Convention, Bowling Green, KY
February 16-17, 2027     MCA Annual Conference and 75th Anniversary Celebration, Dearborn, MI
February 17-18, 2027     29th ACPA/PA Conference, Camp Hill, PA
March 3-5, 2027              47th Annual Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Conference, Kansas City, MO
March 11, 2027                Colorado/Wyoming Annual Conference Pavement Workship, Denver, CO
March 18-19, 2027          CPAM Annual Workshop, Waite Park, MN
March 23-24, 2027          Oklahoma Concrete Pavement Conference, Oklahoma City, OK
April 21-22, 2027             California Concrete Pavement Conference, Davis, CA
June 8-10, 2027               ACPA Mid-Year Meeting, New Orleans, LA