Send Letter To Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Chair Of The Senate Aviation Subcommittee

In a letter sent to the Chairwoman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), aviation businesses from across New Hampshire expressed opposition to using the upcoming FAA reauthorization legislation to create a user-fee funded air traffic control corporation.  The group stated, “Such a corporation, controlled by a board of industry insiders, will place our businesses and our employees in constant peril from efforts by major users of the ATC system to cost shift and deny general aviation access to airspace and critical airport development funds.”

The letter to Senator Ayotte (pictured) follows upon a briefing for New Hampshire businesses on the status of FAA reauthorization conducted by NATA President Tom Hendricks. “The Senate is expected to begin consideration of an FAA reauthorization bill early next year, so we deeply appreciate aviation business leaders in New Hampshire reaching out to Senator Ayotte, a critical voice in the upcoming debate, and sharing their concerns,” said Hendricks.

General aviation is an important sector of New Hampshire’s economy.  Earlier this year the New Hampshire Department of Transportation noted the state’s 25 public-use airports annually generate more than $1.16 billion in annual economic benefits to the state and over 9,200 jobs.  In addition to direct airport impacts, the state also concluded that New Hampshire companies manufacturing equipment, parts, and other commodities for aviation adds another billion dollars of indirect economic output and over 3,600 additional New Hampshire jobs. 

The New Hampshire aviation businesses closed noting, “While we strongly agree that maintaining the status quo risks our nation’s supremacy in aviation, we believe that radical changes to the FAA’s management structure and funding poses much greater risks – to the safe and stable nature of the world’s best air traffic control system and America’s vibrant general aviation community.”

(Source: NATA news release)

FMI: www.nata.aero