Sat, Nov 13, 2004
Comments emphasize that grant enforcement is key to protecting
airports
AOPA has told the FAA that the
agency must maintain its authority to enforce airport grant
obligations in order to protect the nation’s general aviation
airports.
The FAA has proposed changes to the Airport Improvement Program
grant assurances. AIP grants provide federal monies to help
maintain, develop, and improve airports. Grant assurances protect
those federal monies.
In comments on the FAA’s proposed changes, AOPA Vice
President of Airports Bill Dunn wrote that the FAA must continue
its policy of requiring that airport-generated revenue be devoted
exclusively to airport infrastructure development.
“Federal airport development assistance through the
Airport Improvement Program plays a significant and vital role in
maintaining airport infrastructure that enables the United States
to enjoy an efficient and envied national system of
airports,” wrote Dunn. “The grant assurances associated
with the AIP development program … have provided the FAA
with a very efficient way of protecting our airport system and
should continue to play the same important role in the
future.”
AOPA concurred with the FAA’s
assessment that the changes in federal grant assurances would
reduce confusion and streamline the process. And the association
applauded the addition of clarifying language that ensures
public-use airports are operated efficiently and that all tenants
are treated fairly.
But AOPA noted that there have been attempts to use airport
revenue for non-infrastructure purposes such as air carrier service
subsidies or recruitment, and made clear that it would oppose any
changes that would divert general aviation airport funds to uses
other than maintenance and infrastructure improvement.
“We commend the FAA … for denying these
requests,” Dunn wrote. “The use of airport-generated
revenues for airport infrastructure development is vital. The
federal grant assurances play an important role in providing the
FAA with the necessary oversight to ensure that our national system
of airports continues to be a premier part of our national
transportation system. To that end, the FAA’s oversight
authority through grant assurances should not be minimized, but
protected.”
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