Federal Funding Program for Airport Grants Still Pending
Although Congress has focused considerable attention on FAA programs the past few months, no definitive action has yet been taken to reauthorize the FAA Airport Improvement Program, which will expire Sept. 30, 1999. This program is of utmost importance as it provides the single largest source of funding for the majority of Texas airports. Of all the bills being filed for re-enactment of this program, by far the most advantageous for the aviation community is House Bill 1000, called the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (Air 21 ). This bill would more than double the airport grant program from current funding levels beginning Oct. 1, 2000. Even more importantly, for smaller airports it would: (I) triple the small airport fund; (2) triple the amount of minimum entitlements for non-hub commercial service airports from $500,000 to $1.5 million per year, providing substantial funding increases for 15 Texas Airports: Abilene, Beaumont, Brownsville, College Station, Gregg County, Laredo, Killeen, McAllen, San Angelo, Texarkana, Tyler, Victoria, Waco, Wichita Falls and Ellington Field in Houston; (3) authorize a contract tower costsharing program so that small airports could gain the benefit of air traffic control services; (4) create a loan guarantee to help airlines buy regional jets if they agree to use them to serve smaller airports; and (5) create a new funding program to help small, underserved airports market and promote their airline services. The legislative proposal is by far the most positive and progressive legislative effort on behalf of airports I have seen during my twenty-five years in state aviation. I encourage you to contact your congressional representatives as soon as possible and ask them to strongly support HB 1000.
