CAA: GA News, "AIR-21 is good for general aviation, but let's keep our guard up"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@cwnet.com>]

Friday, March 31, 2000

AIR-21 is good for general aviation, but let’s keep our guard up
GA News


WASHINGTON, DC — The just-completed three-year struggle to pass a
comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill (story, March 17 Flyer) did more than
set a funding level for the FAA. It also produced direct benefits to general
aviation and some rather indirect but pointed signals to the Clinton
administration.

First, the AIR-21 legislation included the so-called “Hoover Bill,” which is
designed to prevent the FAA from overly zealous enforcement actions. The
bill’s nickname is the result of FAA thuggery in the 1990s against famed
pilot Bob Hoover. Pressure to include it in the reauthorization bill came
primarily from Senator James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma).

Second, aid to airports will increase to $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2001
and total $10 billion over the next three years.

Third, the bill makes it more difficult for the FAA to release local
communities from contractual agreements to maintain their airports after
receiving federal aid for improvements. This may help alleviate the messy
situations that face Meigs Field in Chicago, Richards-Gebaur in Kansas City
and Bader Field in Atlantic City. Communities will also encounter more
trouble selling off airport land.

Other AIR-21 benefits include transfer of aeronautical-charting services
from the Department of Commerce to the FAA, and money for flight service
station OASIS computers, which have been promised for years.

Despite President Clinton’s persistent efforts to fund the FAA solely with
the Aviation Trust Fund, Congress sent an indirect message that the budget
will continue to be augmented with general revenues. Of $40 billion
earmarked for the FAA during the next three years, $6.7 billion will come
from general funds.

As with most things in Washington, the final legislation was a compromise.
Aviation leaders wanted the Aviation Trust Fund off budget, but the Senate
Appropriations Committee wouldn’t agree to it. Meanwhile, other issues were
altered or deleted altogether.

Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater praised the bill, saying the Clinton
administration “got about 95% of what we wanted.”

While general aviation leaders also hailed the bill, the battle against
raids on the Aviation Trust Fund, new taxes and user fees, and efforts to
privatize the air traffic control system is not over by a long shot.

Expect strong politicking over next year’s budget, and don’t be surprised
when the general-interest news media makes things difficult. After AIR-21
was approved by both houses of Congress, The Washington Post carried a lead
editorial citing the injustice of using general revenues to pay a portion of
the FAA’s bills. As AOPA President Phil Boyer said, “The aviation community
will have to remain vigilant.”

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