Press Release
AAAE Urges Congress to Address Expiring FAA Programs, Including Airport Funding
For Immediate Release
August 8, 2008
ALEXANDRIA, Va.--American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) President Chip Barclay today called on Congress to quickly address expiring programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, including the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which supports critical safety, security, and capacity projects at airports across the country.
“Unless Congress acts to either pass a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill or further extend FAA programs and aviation taxes into next year, airports will once again see important airport development funding through the Airport Improvement Program subject to fits and starts,” Barclay said today. “Those types of disruptions impose a significant burden on airports trying to plan and execute necessary upgrades.”
In a letter to congressional leaders, Barclay urged Congress to either pass a multi-year bill or at the very least to extend aviation programs and excise taxes into next year. Since Congress has been unable to pass a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill to this point, lawmakers have approved a series of short-term extensions instead, the most recent of which expires on September 30. Unless Congress acts prior to September 30, AIP, other key FAA programs, and the aviation excise taxes that support those programs will expire.
According to Barclay, airports would strongly prefer that Congress pass a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill that raises the cap on Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) to $7.00, increases AIP funding by $100 million per year and increases funding for programs that help small communities retain and attract commercial air service. Absent the enactment of such legislation, AAAE has called for Congress to pass another FAA extension that lasts through the end of March 2009 or longer since the FAA argues that it needs at least a six-month extension (beyond the beginning of the fiscal year in October) to administer the AIP program.
In addition to calling for extending AIP contract authority, AAAE has urged Congress to extend aviation excise taxes and airport and airway trust fund expenditure authority. AAAE has also urged Congress to approve the Fiscal Year 2009 Department of Transportation spending bill and appropriate funding for AIP.
“Additional delays in AIP funding would impact airports of all sizes and would be particularly hard on small airports that rely on federal funds for capital projects and on those airports in areas with short construction cycles,” Barclay noted in the letter to congressional leaders. “Many large airports would also be adversely affected because they count on AIP funds gained through Letters of Intent to build capacity-enhancing projects.”
Given the importance of AIP to all airports, Barclay said that it was imperative that Congress ensure that FAA is able to distribute AIP funds to airports early in the fiscal year.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Read a copy of Barclay's letter here:
http://www.aaae.org/_pdf/_govpdf/Reid%20letter%2091608.pdf
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ABOUT AAAE: Founded in 1928, AAAE (www.aaae.org) is the world’s largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE’s 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C. and offers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.
CONTACT:
Sean Broderick
American Association of Airport Executives
sean.broderick@aaae.org
Office: (703) 824-0500, Ext. 126
Mobile: (571) 283-7715
