ADVOCACY UPDATE
GOVERNMENTAL ISSUES
All Politics Are Local
THE FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILLS currently being drafted in both
the House of Representatives and Senate will, once approved,
authorize the FAA’s revenue collection and activities over the
next several years.
Legislative initiatives as large and seemingly impersonal
as the reauthorization bill represent significant efforts.
Ultimately, these initiatives have a direct effect on you,
your flying freedoms, and the aviation community. EAA is
currently working on many issues within the proposed FAA
reauthorization bill.
Vintage Aircraft Data Release—One provision would
require the FAA to retain data for early vintage aircraft and
release that data to the public when the type certificate is no
longer being supported. This will help vintage aircraft owners
and restorers to maintain, repair, and restore their aircraft. EAA
has been working closely with the FAA and Congress on this
language for years.
Through-the-Fence Agreements (TTF)—A proposed
revision to TTF regulations, partially drafted by EAA, would
allow residential (non-commercial) through-the-fence
operations at the discretion of the local airport sponsor (rather
than at a national level) without compromising the ability of the
airport to receive federal funds. Residents would be required to
maintain the access at their expense and pay the going rate for
similar on-airport access.
Obama budget released
GA AIRPORTS FUNDED; USER FEES ABSENT
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION released its FY 2012 budget request on
February 14. The early scorecard:
THUMBS UP
User fees are not included. EAA applauds Representatives
Tom Petri (R-WI) and Jerry Costello (D-IL) for sending a
letter to President Obama on January 21, 2011, opposing
user fees. That bipartisan letter was signed by 116 House of
Despite deep cuts in airport improvement program (AIP) funding
(down from $3.5 billion to $2.4 billion), GA airports remain funded
at current levels. EAA is pleased that the Administration recognizes
that GA airports have no way other than AIP funding to obtain
money for critical infrastructure improvements. Large and medium
commercial hub airports can raise such funding through passenger
facility charges, which they will be allowed to increase per the
proposed budget.
NextGen modernization is a major emphasis in this budget, with
$1.24 billion marked to improve the air traffic control system, up $370
million from the FY 2011 budget. NextGen represents the transition
from a ground-based to a satellite-based air traffic control system.
THUMBS DOWN
Not included in the proposed budget are
guaranteed low-interest loans or other
innovative financing options to make it
financially easier for GA aircraft owners to adopt
The Administration’s budget request is step one in the
FAA budget appropriation process for the coming year.
