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Regional Aviation
News
Stage Set For Funds Fight on Small Community Air Service
March 4, 2003
Hill lawmakers and lobbyists say they will fight to continue the small community air service pilot program, whose funds were zeroed in the Bush Administration’s fiscal 2004 budget proposal. Todd Hauptli, senior VP-legislative affairs for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), said yesterday airport lobbyists will push for more than the $20 million appropriated in fiscal 2003.
There were “$142 million worth of requests for $27.5 million authorized” for the program, Hauptli said. While he could not say exactly what backers might request, Hauptli noted it would be at a “dramatically higher level” to reflect demand. “We will see what the political marketplace will allow us to do,” he said.
Part of the impetus in keeping the program going stems from the airline financial crisis, which has hit small communities especially hard. David Plavin, president of the Airports Council International-North America, said about 30% of service to small communities has disappeared. Hill sources confirmed that some in Congress want to see the program continued and will encourage appropriators to add funding in the FY04 budget. Senate Commerce is trying to schedule a hearing on small community air service where it will address the program, a committee spokeswoman told The DAILY yesterday.
The Senate has funded the program during the past two fiscal years despite lack of support in the Administration’s budget. A spokesman for Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), who sits on the Appropriations Committee and the Commerce aviation subcommittee, said Dorgan believes the same will happen in FY04. Congress and airlines worked together to launch the program two years ago as a way to offset some of the pressure of Essential Air Service. –DM
Source: Aviation Daily, March 4, 2003
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