The Alliance for Aviation Across America, League of Rural Voters, National Farmers Union, Air Care Alliance, and National Agricultural Aviation Association recently sent a letter to Congress, highlighting the need to protect the interests of small airports and rural communities in the FAA reauthorization process, as well as urging Congress to retain oversight of the national aviation system.
The letter notes that there are more than 5,000 airports around our country, and “the vast majority of these airports are used by general aviation and not served by commercial airlines.”
“These airports support the transport of patients to critical care, aide in protecting crops, firefighting, search-and-rescue, law enforcement, and many other critical services for communities around the country. They help to support the transport of our nation’s blood supply, they provide supplies in the aftermath of natural disasters, and they allow patients and veterans to be reunited with their families.
“For businesses around the country, and particularly those based in rural areas, general aviation and access to a local airport also means the difference between success and failure,” the letter continues. “Companies of all sizes use business aircraft to transport tools, supplies and to reach customers in far off markets. They are used to survey and repair power lines, and they help farms survey and monitor crops and cattle. In fact, roughly 71 million acres of cropland are annually treated utilizing aerial application in the United States.”
“Put simply, general aviation and our network of community airports are a lifeline to farms, businesses and rural communities around the nation, supporting millions of American jobs and billions in economic activity.”
“It is for all these reasons that as Congress debates changes to our air transportation system, that it is crucial that we protect the needs and interests of rural and small communities,” the letter continues. “Most importantly, we believe it is critical that Congressional oversight be retained over our air transportation system, so that we ensure that the interests and needs of these communities be protected and represented in the system. We are particularly concerned about proposals to turn over authority over our air transportation system to any type of private board or entity, which would have the authority over funding mechanisms and taxes.”