This month’s column features a special edition of Dave’s Hangar, with the TxDOT director of aviation taking questions on some of the important issues facing aviation today.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming aviation conference?
I always look forward to our annual aviation conference since it is the one time a year, we have the opportunity to meet with most of our constituents as a group. The conference gives us an opportunity to listen to those we do business with to discuss ways we can better assist them in our mutual efforts to improve the Texas Aviation System. Each year, the conference grows in number of attendees. I am a little concerned that attendance could be affected somewhat this year by the recession. In any case, I am sure that the conference will be a success as it has been every year in the past.
What are we looking at in terms of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill – what is the current thinking of a timeline and what might it look like in terms of dollars and sense?
It appears that we will complete this year without FAA reauthorization. I am not optimistic that Congress will enact new legislation during the current fiscal year. If that proves to be correct, this will be the second year in a row that FMs programs have operated under a continuing resolution. Recently, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee did approve a bill to renew FAA programs including some $4 billion for airport improvement grant funding, an increase of about $485 million compared to the current year. However, a probable debate over how taxes should be levied and certain labor issues will likely postpone enactment of new legislation until sometime next fiscal year. Due to impacts of the recession and the fact that economic stimulus grants will be 100 percent federal funding, we will be changing the local match for grants issued by our office during FY 2009 from 10 to five percent to the maximum extent possible.
What is in store for Texas’ airports in terms of the stimulus bill – how much money- what is it used for/what are the strings/restriction/what will the matching requirements be?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Economic Stimulus) has been passed by Congress and signed by the president. The act provides $1 .1 billion for airport development grants nationally. In Texas, we anticipate receiving approximately $15 million in airport grants for general aviation airports. Specific projects will be selected by the FAA. All grants are to be funded 100 percent with federal funds. The program eligibility and administration of grants will be the same as our annual FAA grant program with two exceptions: (1) strict project completion deadlines must be met and (2) no local match requirement.
We’ve been hearing a lot about aviation education and workforce needs in the state. What are your thoughts on efforts in North Texas to establish a four-year degree program at a Texas university?
There is no college-level four-year aviation degree program in Texas. Texas residents must go elsewhere if they wish to pursue this type of educational opportunity. A lot of people, including myself, are interested in establishing this type of program somewhere in the state. As with most things, money is always the major obstacle in making it happen.
Corporate/business aviation has come under fire recently as the economy unravels and corporations reduce or eliminate their corporate aircraft/fleet and use alternative methods of travel. How would you respond to help explain the value of these assets for both companies and communities?
The use of business aircraft is extremely important to a company and the communities it visits, especially in the current economic climate. Instead of telling companies that they can’t use a general aviation aircraft to compete and survive and protect jobs, we should be looking for ways to increase general aviation manufacturing jobs, promote economic growth in communities without airline service and support companies’ efforts to be as productive and efficient as possible. If a business is trying to reach one of the approximately 100 cities that’s lost airline service in the post year, if a business is trying to reach several sites in a single day, if a business needs to move a team quickly and have them work on proprietary information en route and if a business is trying to move equipment that can’t be shipped or carried on an airline, business aviation is prudent and cost effective. Business aviation is a key ingredient in the nation’s economic activity and wellbeing. Business aviation works for Texas and America by creating over one million jobs, providing a lifeline to communities without airline service and providing humanitarian support for people in need. In a challenging climate like this, it should be promoted, not disparaged.
We have a vested interest in getting more people involved in aviation today. What one thing should we all be doing to make that happen?
Certainly, the Young Eagles Program has helped immensely by providing free flights to over one million youngsters. Programs such as our annual Aviation Art Contest con help spark on interest in aviation careers. We must make sure that our youth hove access to opportunities to gain the skills necessary for a successful career in the field of aviation.
