Public Accountability Report Public Accountability Report

2025 Aeronautics
Mission Statement The Division of Aeronautics will encourage and provide the necessary assistance to maintain a safe, efficient and effective aviation system for Illinois that enhances economic growth, offers mobility for people and goods, and ensures environmental quality
Program Goals and Objectives
  1. To maintain and improve the quality and capacity of airport landing facilities.
    1. To perform operational safety inspections for Illinois landing facilities.
    2. To ensure that as many programmed airport improvement projects as possible are under contract by the end of fiscal year.
    3. To ensure that a minimum condition rating score of 75% (satisfaction rating) is maintained on all runways, taxiways and aprons by the end of fiscal year.
  2. To provide safe and effective air transportation services in support of state programs and operations.
    1. To meet and satisfy all rules for air service under Parts 91 and 135 of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards with no violations reported by FAA. (Parts 91 and 135 pertain to rules governing the maintenance of aircraft and the training of pilots.)
Source of Funds General Revenue Fund, Road Fund, Aeronautics Fund, Federal/State/Local Airport Fund, Air Transportation Revolving Fund, Transportation Bond, Series B Fund Statutory Authority 620 ILCS 5/1et seq; 25/1et seq
Fiscal Year 2026 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2025 Actual Fiscal Year 2025 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2024 Actual Fiscal Year 2023 Actual
Input Indicators
Total expenditures - all sources (in thousands) $ 0.0 $ 0.0 $ 0.0 $ 0.0 $ 0.0
Total expenditures - state appropriated funds (in thousands) $ 151,302.0 $ 147,611.6 $ 136,646.6 $ 130,450.4 $ 143,232.9
Average monthly full-time equivalents 37.0 34.0 41.0 38.0 30.0
Output Indicators
Airport safety inspections 27.0 29.0 29.0 27.0 32.0
Percentage of annual program under contract (a) 75.00% 75.00% 55.00% 42.50% 36.00%
Total airport improvement projects under contract (a) 80.0 88.0 190.0 150.0 143.0
Outcome Indicators
Commercial air passengers enplaned outside Chicago 1,400,000 1,285,844 1,115,000 1,167,731 1,176,460
Commercial air passengers enplaned at Chicago airports 52,000,000 48,935,786 45,000,000 46,502,482 42,770,755
Percentage of public airport runway pavements rated satisfactory or better 70.00% 60.00% 60.00% 58.00% 54.00%
Percentage of taxiways rated satisfactory or better 65.00% 60.00% 61.00% 59.00% 57.00%
Percentage of airport aprons rated satisfactory or better 70.00% 67.00% 68.00% 67.00% 66.00%
Air operations (takeoffs/landings) at Chicago airports 1,100,000 986,520 950,000 964,466 935,995
Air operations (takeoffs/landings) at public airports with traffic control towers other than O’Hare and Midway 1,200,000 1,103,979 1,000,000 1,036,675 1,038,704
Percentage of compliance following IDOT airport safety inspections 70.00% 65.00% 67.00% 65.00% 80.00%
Efficiency/Cost-Effectiveness Indicators
State capital investment per commercial air passenger (in dollars) $ 0.97 $ 0.96 $ 0.52 $ 0.62 N/A
Footnotes
Variances are due to the IIJA Program (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) Funds issued by the FAA. The April 2025 Aeronautics Letting Recommendation Memo had 18 projects listed which is a substantial increase from a usual recommendation memo.

Looking for more information?