By John F. Infanger, Editorial Director
Facing the Times
Airports convene at NAC, seeking answers to today's new challenges SAN DIEGO - Aviation funding, of course, headed the list of concerns for airport managers meeting here in September, with passage of the federal reauthorization legislation in doubt. Other hot topics: DOT's ongoing insistence on competition plans for major airports, despite the financial dire straits many are in due to carrier bankruptcies, - another top concern; and the array of unanswered questions relating to security, with heightened focus on funding and cargo.
Airports were here
for theannual F. Russell Hoyt National Airports Conference, put
on by the American Association of Airport Executives.
Top of mind for most was the ongoing funding battles in Washing-ton, both
for aviation and security. The four-year aviation reauthorization package,
mired in a Congres-sional tug of war over privatization of control towers,
is also holding up funding for the Airport Improve-ment Program, a vital
concern for most airports. As a result, the aviation system was being
funded by a 31-day continuing resolution, beginning October 1. [As of
press time, the legislation was still being debated in Congress.]
Funding for the Transportation Security Administration was also in question,
and of critical importance to airports is the money that will pay for
in-line baggage screening systems now being planned at most commercial
facilities. According to Spencer Dickerson, executive vice president for
AAAE, some $9 billion has been spent to date on TSA activities.
Woodie Woodward, FAA's asso-ciate administrator for airports, says that
although technically the TSA has taken over airport security, FAA continues
to fund security-related projects with AIP monies. In FY2003, she says,
FAA distributed some $130 million for security projects such as fencing
and access control, an increase from $100 million allocated in 2002.
Also a top priority for managers at large airports is the continuing emphasis
on competition plans that many in industry today see as ludicrous, considering
the state of the air carrier industry. Comments James Bennett, A.A.E.,
president of the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority, "I would
like to see the FAA's competition plan."
Bennett says he is concerned that DOT is interfering with the relationship
between carriers and airports, at a time when both are suffering economic
hardships. And, he questions the point of the exercise, noting that Reagan
National Airport had to submit a competition plan even though it is a
slot-controlled airport.
Woodward adds that FAA is seeing more airports raising red flags about
their financial situations, and the agency is undertaking a study to explore
the impact of airline finances on large airports in the U.S.
Security
On hand to discuss security was Stephen McHale, deputy adminis-trator
for TSA. The biggest problems facing TSA, he says, are related to funding.
He says the original cost estimates for security were "wildly out
of line.
"We had huge sticker shock coming in," says McHale, relating
that it has led to a hesitancy in Congress to authorize TSA monies. Further,
putting TSA under the Department of Homeland Security umbrella has put
it in a position of competing with other departments for funds.
Regarding the letter of intent (LOI) program now in place in which TSA
promises to later finance upfront costs being spent by airports today
for in-line systems, McHale says it's a promise dependent upon Congress
later following through with the money. He cautions that the LOI program
must not become so large that it hampers other initiatives in future years.
Carter Morris, vice president of transportation security policy for AAAE,
says that one of the greatest challenges facing airports currently is
perimeter security. Specifically, how the actual physical screening at
the perimeter will be accomplished is a question.