Mon, Jun 16, 2003
$100 Million In Grants For General Aviation Included In FAA
Reauthorization Bill
Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) released the
following statement last week, announcing significant federal
funding authorized for Maryland's General Aviation airports in the
House version of the FAA reauthorization bill. Hoyer has been a
leading advocate for providing federal compensation for the
devastating financial and economic losses suffered by the DC-3
airports which were severely impacted by the increased security
measures taken after September 11, 2001.
"The House of Representatives passed the FAA Reauthorization
bill that will provide $100 million to general aviation to help
alleviate the cost incurred in meeting security requirements and
the revenue lost because of the interruption in operations," Hoyer
said in the statement. "This $100 million grant shows that we
recognize the sacrifice that general aviation has made in the
effort to make us more secure. Let's not forget: the federal
government imposed the restrictions on general aviation, and the
federal government should do its part to help ease the financial
burden those restrictions have caused. This is a fair
restitution that will start the process of a return to financial
health of general aviation.
Jobs Lost, Companies Ruined
"After September 11, the Federal Aviation Administration issued
temporary flight restrictions on the small aircraft of general
aviation as part of its effort to make commercial air travel safer
and to restore the public's confidence in the security of our
Nation's airports. Those restrictions have been lifted
for general aviation for every airport except Reagan National and
the three DC area general aviation airports which remained closed
to general aviation. As a result, these airports,
specifically College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield, and Washington
Executive have been forced to nearly cease their operations,
endangering the livelihood of their employees who have lost income
and jobs and airport owners who have lost long-time customers and
revenue.
"Lee Schiek, manager of the College Park Airport, reported
earlier this year that flights in and out of College Park plummeted
from about 1800 per month before September 11 to 164 per month at
the beginning of 2003, and 55 of the airport's 87 based aircraft
have left for other airports.
"This industry is a proven, integral part of the Nation's
economy, providing vital services and economic stability to
individuals, families, churches, hospitals, colleges, industry,
small businesses, and communities. Aviation transportation in
Maryland is a $1.3 billion industry, an industry too large and too
important to be hobbled any further in an already weak
economy."
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