While uncertainty surrounds much of aviation, the general aviation sector is a bright spot and doing remarkably well. Airport-based businesses across the country are experiencing strong years, and general and corporate aviation has now returned to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after a four-year absence (though on a limited basis). The economic loss caused to D.C. and the surrounding area is put at over $200 million. Work is still being done to regain open access to DCA.
The annual NBAA conference and trade show for business aviation was able to reorganize and relocate this year’s show — in a hurry. After Hurricane Katrina hit, it quickly became clear that New Orleans would not be in a position to host major conventions by mid-November. NBAA worked swiftly to find an alternate location — no small feat considering the event covers a million square feet, offers a large outdoor static display, and draws in some 30,000 attendees.
Among issues we’ll be watching for 2006 for general aviation are high insurance costs and security issues affecting airport-based businesses. The insurance concern is being mitigated by some in general aviation through safety training and a reduction of incidents in an already safe sector of aviation.
The passing of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for 2006 is a good thing. No additional aviation fees were announced; now comes the wait to determine how the money will be divvied up for aviation.
Interesting story out of Wisconsin: An area technical college near Milwau-kee was granted $750,000 for a project aimed at making the nation’s 13,000 small airports safer. The Waukesha County Technical College was one of 15 recipients chosen for the grant, which will be used to develop a program to teach airport managers, pilots, and emergency responders how to detect and prevent terrorism at GA airports, though these have not been a prime target of terrorism.
Is this the best use of Homeland Security money? I’d be interested in your take on this.
With this issue, AIRPORT BUSINESS enters its 20th year of publication. It’s been our pleasure and privilege to work as a partner in this market. Bringing airport and airport-based business managers and industry suppliers together through the pages of the magazine is a rewarding experience. We’ll have new features to highlight the anniversary, including a regular “Then and Now” (page 10) and a look back at the past 20 years in a special February edition.
