On a recent vacation, I had the misfortune of flying through one of my least favorite airports. I won’t name names, but it’s a major U.S. international airport. Of the many times I’ve been there, it’s been constantly crowded, dark and busy. The corridors they herd passengers through have supposedly been “under construction” for at least the last two years, but I have a feeling the construction signs are a ruse to explain the back-alley feel. While waiting at our gate, I put my head back to catch some quick shuteye, and lo and behold, the ceiling above us was in complete shambles. And judging by the amount of black dust and grime hanging off of the metal planks, it had been that way for a while. Actual chunks were hanging down and you could see into the plenum. Most were buckled and contorted. I have no idea how a ceiling gets that bad, short of someone banging on it nonstop for a few weeks. Luckily, for airports like this that have seen much better days, help is on the way in the form of $1.1 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as the stimulus bill. The money will be divvied up by the FAA to airport projects based on how quickly airports can start (and complete) the work the money was requested for. And while money from the FAA usually requires local communities to pitch in a match funding, the stimulus bill waives this requirement, removing the burden from municipalities to come up with the cash needed to keep things moving quickly.In reality, facilities departments are likely to see little of this money as the majority will go towards airport improvements such as runway and airfield lighting maintenance, but there’s always hope for a trickle-down effect. Hopefully, facility executives at airports like that one I flew through can make strong cases for some badly needed facilities and maintenance funding.