King: I know that. That's why I refered to AIP CAPITAL (as opposed to OPERATING) grants.

Aha. The way you worded it, capital grants & subsidies got lumped
together for GA airports whose revenues don't cover expenses.

The airport I used to work at in CT has lost money ever since the
airlines left in '99 (maybe even before). They still get AIP money (got
a brandy-new snowblower last year) but the city that owns the airport
makes up the diff in their annual budget. If the airport ever made a
profit it would owe taxes to the town in which the airport sits.

When federal tax revenues go to bolster ski area operations and build lifts...

Doubtful, seeing as they aren't part of a national transportation
infrastructure. But, the way global warming seems to be progressing ski
area ops days may be numbered. gasp!