Study Specifically Cites Negative Economic Impact
(Editor's Note: The following is the complete text of an
AOPA statement regarding a study commissioned by the organization
on the economic impact of the DC-area ADIZ.)
Ten general aviation
(GA) airports inside the Washington, D.C., Air Defense
Identification Zone (ADIZ) that are dependent on providing services
to pilots of light aircraft are losing nearly $43 million per year
in wages, revenue, taxes, and local spending. That's the
finding of an independent study commissioned by the Aircraft Owners
and Pilots Association (AOPA).
"The study shows that those most affected by the ADIZ are GA
aircraft owners and pilots, and the businesses that serve this
group, even though they pose the least threat," said AOPA President
Phil Boyer. "If the ADIZ is not modified, it could
permanently jeopardize the economic viability of GA operations in
the Washington, DC, area."
Total revenue at the impacted airports has dropped $27.5 million
since the ADIZ imposition in 2003. And more than 100 jobs
have been lost, sales of aviation gasoline are down by nearly 20
percent, a flight school has closed, and many pilots have either
stopped flying or have moved out of the area.
"Overall, it is clearly apparent that airports within the ADIZ
have been negatively impacted (both operationally and economically)
by the events of 9/11 and that their recovery had lagged the
recovery experienced at airports outside of the ADIZ," the study
conducted by Aviation Management and Consulting Group and Martin
Associates revealed.
AOPA commissioned the study to find out just how much the ADIZ
is negatively impacting those airports because the FAA failed to
gather any data about the impact the ADIZ has on GA airports.
The firms analyzed economic data
from 2002 through 2004 at 13 airports within the ADIZ and 20
airports around the perimeter of the ADIZ. Airports within
the ADIZ were also compared to other national and regional
airports.
In addition to gathering specific economic data, the firms
conducted one-on-one meetings and telephone conversations with
airport operators, airport businesses, and airport users.
Some of the specifics at individual airports are telling
examples of the negative effect an ADIZ can have on a GA
airport.
Take Martin State Airport in Baltimore: From 2002 to 2004,
Martin State has lost nearly $7 million each year in local
spending. It also reports an annual loss of $15 million in
airport revenue.
Or look at Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg,
Maryland: It has lost 72 direct, induced, and indirect jobs,
which equates to about $2.5 million in lost annual personal
income. And airport revenue is down $3.7 million.
AOPA will be including copies of the executive summary in its
comments on the FAA proposal to make the ADIZ permanent.
The more-than-406,000 members of AOPA make up the world's
largest civil aviation association. AOPA is committed to
striking a common-sense balance that fulfills national security
needs while protecting aircraft owners and pilots from overly
burdensome regulations.