Routine Airport Maintenance Program Approved!!!
Realizing that many smaller communities are not staffed or equipped to perform necessary preventative maintenance on their airports, the Texas Transportation Commission approved a new program on August 29, 1996, authorizing the Texas Department of Transportation to provide routine maintenance support for publicly owned airports throughout Texas. The work, part of each TxDOT district’s annual highway routine maintenance program, will be provided by district personnel or through contracts with private companies. Types of work which can be performed under this new program include crack repair and seal coats for pavements, striping, herbicide application, and any other type of maintenance work that the districts and the airport owners feel would be beneficial to maintaining the airfield facilities. As an added incentive for participation in this program, the department will share the cost of the work on a 50/50 basis up to a $10,000 maximum per airport per year in state funds.
As we begin to make strides to “rebuild” the general aviation airport system in Texas, we must ensure that the investment we are making is adequately protected. I encourage each airport representative to take advantage of this new program to the maximum extent possible to ensure preservation of your airport. A letter explaining the program has recently been mailed to each elected chief official representing a general aviation airport. A visit to each airport by a district representative will also be scheduled soon to explain the program in detail and to determine the maintenance work that each community needs to have performed. In the interim, you may call our office at 1-800-68 PILOT or your local district office for further details.
Congress Approves Federal Airport Grant Program For FY 97 !!!
On October 3, 1996, just prior to adjournment for the year, Congress passed legislation reauthorizing funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, including the Airport Improvement Program {AIP). The legislation authorizes AIP funding for Fiscal Year 1997, at $2.28 billion and $2.347 billion for Fiscal Year 1998. However, the authorized levels are maximum amounts allowed 2 with the actual funding for FY 97, approved in an earlier omnibus appropriations bill, set at $1.46 billion. Actual funding for FY 98 will be determined by Congress at a later date. The funding level for FY 97 is a very slight increase compared to FY 96 which was funded at $1 .45 billion.
Another important part of the legislation changed the status of TxDOT’s Block Grant Program from a “Pilot Program” to a permanent program. This is an important step as it will give the state and local governments more flexibility in the future in improving and developing our state airport system. The bill also addressed FAA reform and aviation security and safety matters.