Wingtips Volume 2 - Number 2

At its May meeting, the Texas Transportation Commission approved the FY 1995-1999 Capital Improvement Program for Aviation Facilities Development. The Five-Year CIP is a tentative program and a balancing act between the money that is available and the number of sponsors that want projects. Projects included in the first two years of the CIP (FYS 1995 and 1996) are those that are to be approved as the “Biennial Program” in August by the Texas Transportation Commission. All other projects are subject to change as needs, priorities, and funding availability change.

The 1995-1999 CIP includes $100.2 million of nonreliever general aviation airport improvement projects. Over the five-year period, this represents projected funding of about $76.6 million federal, $17.9 million state, ad $5.7 million in local contributions. For more information or to request a copy of the CIP, please contact Bruce Ehly of our staff.

The TxDOT Aviation Division, in recognition that adequate airport infrastructure is an essential component for attracting economic development, determined that a pilot program to assist communities in developing projects that would provide tangible and measurable economic impacts would be beneficial both to local communities and to the state as a whole. On May 25th, the Texas Transportation Commission approved Aviation division staff recommendations to award economic incentive grants to the cities of Georgetown and Gainesville and to Gillespie County.

Proposals were initially received from fifteen airport sponsors and were evaluated by Aviation Division staff with the assistance of the Department of Commerce. The selection was based on: evidence of community support, including compliance with existing grant conditions and responsiveness to airport inspection letters; potential economic benefit of the candidate project on the local economy, including the number of permanent jobs projected to be created; consistency of the project with existing plans; evidence of the commitment and ability of project sponsors to provide more than the minimum required share of allowable project costs; degree of expectation of successful implementation of the project; and overall perception of the proposal.

We are optimistic that this program will be successful and become a permanent pro- gram that will fund new projects each year.

Travis McLain, Airport Manager of the Year

Travis McLain, was presented with the “Airport Manager of the Year” award for his outstanding management of the Georgetown Municipal Airport. With the exception of federal/ state grants, the airport receives no funding from other sources. Operational costs for the airport, employee salaries and utilities (including the runway lighting), are provided solely from what is generated on the premises. Mr. McLain’s attention to the airport’s project needs, and his commitment to operating Georgetown Municipal as a safe, service-oriented, and well-maintained airport, has earned him the Aviation Division’s 1994 Airport Manager of the Year Award.

Garner Field, (Uvalde) – Airport of the Year

A well maintained airport, competent and professional staff and community support earned Uvalde’s Garner Field the “Airport of the Year” award. There are many active businesses at the airport which are supported by the community and which provide direct economic benefit to the City of Uvalde. Southwest Texas Junior College is located at the airport and is one of the few junior colleges that offers a two-year flight training program. The city obtained funding and recently built another 13,000 sf hangar to accommodate the continued growth at the airport. Garner Field provides a very positive image for the City of Uvalde, including attracting the 22nd World Soaring Championships which brings hundreds of international sailplane enthusiasts to Uvalde. Accepting the award is Mr. & Mrs. Tom Huffstutler.

Mid Valley (Weslaco), Most Improved Airport

From construction of a new terminal building to hiring a full time airport manager, the Weslaco Airport has earned the title “Most Improved Airport”. The terminal was constructed with only local funds, showing the strong commitment to developing and maintaining the airport as an integral part of the city’s infrastructure.

Franklin County Airport (Mt. Vernon), Outstanding Community Involvement and Support Award

When a new airport was constructed in 1986, the residents of Franklin County saw an opportunity to construct a facility that would also function as a community center. Franklin County residents and the airport board recognized that a multipurpose facility would benefit not only aviation enthusiasts, but the entire community as well, and undertook the task to raise the money solely from local contributions. Approximately 16,000 people annually now use the facility for scout meetings, reunions, dances, wedding receptions and aviation events.

The U.S. Congress is currently involved in legislative initiatives that will have a far reaching and long term effect on aviation in Texas and throughout the nation.

First, the good news. At long last it appears that Congress will finally take action to limit product liability on aircraft manufacturers. At present, manufacturers and after market suppliers are liable for damage or personal injury which might occur as a result of an aviation accident for the life of the aircraft. This potential liability has destroyed general aviation aircraft manufacturing in the United States. After a twenty year effort under the leadership of Representative Dan Glickman and Senator Nancy Kassenbaum from Kansas, it appears that Congress is finally ready to enact legislation to correct this inequity. The Senate passed an aviation industry supported bill by a vote of 91 to 8. The House is considering a similar bill, H.R. 3087, which has been delayed in the House Judiciary Committee. However, Representative Glickman has initiated a “discharge petition” which would bypass the Judiciary Committee and bring the bill directly to the House floor for a vote. To do so, the bill, which has 300 House sponsors, will need 218 representatives to sign the discharge petition. If this bill passes, the president of the Cessna Aircraft Corporation has committed to restarting single engine aircraft manufacturing immediately. Although things are looking good, the battle is not over yet.

Now for the news that is not so good. We have been waiting since last October for Congress to pass legislation allocating federal funding for airport development. Finally, last week an Airport Improvement Program re-authorization bill was passed. Unfortunately, the measure passed was “interim legislation” which means Congress allocated less than 50% of the funds which had been authorized earlier. This was done as a temporary measure to allow some airport construction to begin pending the disposition of an amendment to the original bill attempting to resolve a difference of opinion between the airlines and airport management regarding rates and charges for airport use. The concern that exists is that if this issue is not resolved prior to October 1, 1994, we could lose 50% of our federal funding for airport development for the year. With the critical need for additional funding to support the development and preservation of our statewide airport system, a loss of half of this year’s federal funding would be catastrophic. To make matters worse, The House Appropriations Committee is considering an additional 11% reduction in airport funding for next year.

If you feel strongly about funding for airport development in Texas and the aircraft product liability issue, please let your Congressmen know. Both these issues are crucial for the future of general aviation in Texas.

Finally, you will note on page 4, that we now have a new toll free telephone line for your use. The number is 1-800-68 PILOT or 1-800- 687-4568. Please call us at any time you have an aviation matter you would like to discuss or recommendation for us. It’s important that we maintain good communications in pursuit of our mutual goals. So, please stay in touch.

Over 14,000 school children from across the United States submitted artwork for the 1994 International Aviation Art Contest. Students were invited to submit art based on the theme “Flying Saves Lives”. Over 200 Texas entries were received by the Aviation Division. A panel of judges which included Mel Brown of Texas Aviation Artists, and Rose Salinas, Art Instructor for Austin I.S.D., participated in the final selection. The first place Texas winners were, Category 1- Ages 5-8: Matthew Anderson, Age 8, Preston Hollow Elementary, Dallas; Category II – Ages 9-12: Eric Barhan, Age 11, Dunbar Middle School, Dickinson; and Category III – Ages 13-16: Joey Askew, Age 15, Buna High School, Buna. David Fulton, Aviation Division Director, presented Eric and Matthew their awards at the Texas Airport Operators Conference. Each of the winners were given aviation lithographs courtesy of Aero Lithographs, Inc., Euless, TX. Special thanks go to all of the teachers who encouraged their students to participate in this program.

Almost 300 people attended this year’s Texas Airport Operators Conference, including airport managers, sponsors, consultants, exhibitors, speakers and staff. The Conference was sponsored by the TxDOT, Aviation Division and the Texas Association of Airport Executives (TAAE), to provide aviation management information with an emphasis on the specific needs of general aviation airports, to discuss aviation topics of importance to local officials, and to seek solutions to common problems.

Those attending presentations and work-shops designed specifically for airport sponsors and operators were also able to meet with state and federal aviation staffs. Our thanks to all the participants for making this the best conference ever.