Airport Woes Are A National Epidemic

Article Last Updated:
Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 12:06:33 AM MST

By Valerie Gritton/Staff writer

FARMINGTON, NM - The downturn in airport passenger revenues is something not only affecting the Four Corners Regional Airport.

Small airports across New Mexico and the United States are losing passengers and the income necessary to operate.

Of the more than 500 airports surveyed nationwide and listed in a report titled Reconnecting America, Santa Fe declared the fourth-highest reduction in weekly flights with a 62 percent decline. Hobbs tied for sixth place with a 61 percent reduction.

Although they reported losses above the 7.7 percent national average, Farmington, Carlsbad, Roswell and Taos airports still have some level of service.

Ruidoso does not.

"We're not alone in the problem and there may be others we can join to seek a solution on a larger scale," said Farmington Community Development Director Joe Schmitz about the problems facing Four Corners Regional Airport.

"If we don't join in, no one else is going to do this for us," he said.

Fortunately, a group called Regional Aviation Partners has stepped in to try and preserve the funding and interests of regional airlines, airports and rural communities.

It is the belief of Regional Aviation Partners that small airports are seeing a decline because of an Federal Aviation Administration rule change in 1995 that increased operational costs of smaller aircraft such as the Beechcraft 1900 the airplane flown by airlines which serve Farmington.

"In 1996 Mesa's operational cost went from 18 cents per available seat to 24 cents," Transportation and Telecommunications Committee Chairman Gary Risley said.

The change required aircraft with 30 seats or less to operate under more stringent Part 121 regulations. They are the same regulations that apply to larger aircraft such as the Boeing 777.

"So the smaller airlines had to start meeting the same standards as major airlines. The 121 has killed the 19-seat market," Risley said.

The change in regulations was propagated by a 1994 incident where an American Eagle 72-seat airplane crashed in Indiana.

The switch was made because an FAA administrator thought the change would benefit the public, even though the plane that crashed was already operating under Part 121 regulations.

"The FAA projected over a 10-year period (1996-2005), that the proposed rule change has the potential' to prevent approximately 94 accidents under Federal Aviation Regulation Part 135. The FAA further predicted an estimated benefit of $393 million (1994 discounted dollars) ... To date, neither projection has been realized," a petition to the U.S. Department of Transportation from Regional Air Partners states.

The petition is seeking a change in the rule or exemption from permitting small aircraft operators to comply with the federal aviation regulations applicable to commuter operations.

In Farmington and at other regional airports across the country, the change in regulations increased costs.

"You get slam-dunked with this huge increase in cost, but you get no consumer increase in revenue to pay for it," Risley said.

The 1900 aircraft that flies out of Farmington costs $3,200 per month to lease. That number does not include operating costs, Risley said.

"So the dollars are huge," he said. "A lot of rural communities are facing the loss of air service and under 121, they can't afford to operate or else you've got to pay very high air fare. For every dollar you increase the fare, you lose a percentage of passengers."

To help the efforts of Regional Aviation Partners, Risley has gone before the Airport Advisory Commission and will address Farmington city councilors on behalf of the recently formed Regional Air Service Preservation Association.

The association is looking for $10,000 to help fund legislative efforts. The goal is a change in FAA regulations from Part 121 back to Part 135 for aircraft with 30 seats or less.

"We need air service to remain economically viable for community growth and try to reduce the regulatory burden. If we can take 5 or 6 cents from the available seat miles, that would at least give them a fighting chance," he said. "If we can reduce that cost, why shouldn't we do it to give communities the opportunity to access the national transportation system? The reality is the switch back to 135 will not affect the safety of the passengers."

To help the problem at Four Corners Regional Airport, some recommend the addition of jets to the fleet.

However, there aren't enough people to fill up a jet, Risley said.

Joe Schmitz agrees.

"It's not the airport itself that is inadequate. In 1982 we were taking 737s. Our facility is not without problems, but that is not what is driving this," Schmitz said. "Even Durango has been successful because of subsidies. Farmington does not subsidize this airport."

"If this community wanted to subsidize an airport at $300,000 per year then you'll have $50 tickets. But Durango is a tourist community," Risley said.

While Santa Fe and Hobbs continue to see weekly flight reductions, it is important to the community that Four Corners Regional Airport retain its status.

"It is an essential asset and if we have to subsidize it to keep it going during tough times we should," Risley said. "They are dropping service not because they are making money. They are dropping service because they are losing money."

Valerie Gritton: valerieg@daily-times.com