There's Savannah, There's Charleston ...

Feb. 16, 2011
... it’s all upbeat. Then there’s FAA reauthorization … not so upbeat. Last week started with NATA’s FBO Leadership Conference, followed by NBAA’s Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference. The former was good; the latter vibrant. Then there was the subsequent Capitol Hill focus on FAA/system reauthorization. Therein lies a mixed bag. Airport groups were caught off guard with the Administration’s proposal to reduce Airport Improvement Program funding by some billion dollars. Larger airports would see their grant monies disappear, but would be allowed to increase passenger facility charges (PFCs) to help fund local improvements. Comments AAAE president Chip Barclay, “De-funding user-supported airport infrastructure investment --to levels not seen in a decade -- is not the solution to our current budget woes.  Airports need more tools, not fewer …” And from ACI-NA president Greg Principato, “While I am pleased that the Obama Administration has recommended that airports utilize local financing to create local jobs by funding local infrastructure projects, this budget proposal to raise the PFC user fee is two years too late. Most especially because we know that Congress will not include this provision in the FAA bill despite the fact that it would allow local communities to create local jobs building local projects with local resources. So, we may get the AIP cut without the additional local freedom of the PFC user fee.” Savannah … from the FBO Leadership conference, a couple of quotes … NATA president Jim Coyne expresses a concern about FAA reauthorization legislation: “Will money be diverted from airport infrastructure investment to pay for NextGen?” (See above.) And from AOPA president Craig Fuller, on the subject of finding an alternative fuel to 100LL: “If we don’t have a solution that works for FBOs, we don’t have a solution.” Meanwhile, NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers conference attracted more than 2,000 business aviation folks, with the exhibit hall full of fixed base operators, airports, charter firms, caterers, and fuel distributors, among others. This year’s event again reinforced what these fingers have written before – for companies and airports that want to reach business aviation clientele, S&D is one of the top vehicles. And, a side trip to Charleston International Airport for an upcoming feature in airport business magazine reveals that this airport is about to undergo a sea change. Boeing is taking Charleston global with the construction of its second assembly plant for the 787/Dreamliner on some 240 acres. And, on March 13 Southwest Airlines comes to town with seven daily flights to four of its (non-)hubs. Airport director Sue Stevens, A.A.E. and her staff are accelerating terminal improvements to accommodate the expected influx of Southwest passengers. When one considers many of the challenges facing airport managers across the U.S. in the current economic (and funding) environment, Stevens’ position looks to be one of the better ones at present. Thanks for reading. jfi