A New General Aviation Airport Coalition (GAAC) Is Formed ...

... in an effort to raise awareness about the challenges facing smaller airports in the U.S. Comments Bobbi Thompson, a member of the GAAC’s executive committee, “Today’s general aviation airports are especially vulnerable as a result of an increasing number of unfunded mandates and decreasing budgets and staff.” At the GAAC website (www.GAAirportCoalition.org) the group’s 2011 Platform reads, in part … “General aviation's overall economic output in the U.S. is estimated at $150 billion annually, supporting more than 1.2 million jobs. GA airports provide the launching pad for these activities, and local communities and the federal government must recognize the necessity of GA airports in keeping local economies strong. Local governments and the federal government must continue to support GA airports in their day-to-day management and operations, as well as vital capital improvements.” GAAC is being managed by The Ferguson Group, a government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. According to its website, “The Ferguson Group lobbies Congress and the federal agencies on behalf of public and private interests across the country. The Ferguson Group is the largest federal representative of local governments in Washington, D.C.” The formation of the GAAC is an interesting development, and not the first attempt to get a stronger voice for GA facilities. It plans on taking a two-fold approach to its efforts – local and federal. Financing for GAAC initially is coming from member and corporate dues. One has to be skeptical about how much reach that funding will bring. Of course, there are already two well-established airport lobbying groups in Washington, the American Association of Airport Executives and Airports Council International-North America. The former represents airport managers, many of them from GA facilities, while the latter by its charter represents larger airport systems and authorities. Historically, smaller airports have felt that at times they get lost in the lobbying message … thus the formation of the GAAC. It should be noted that NBAA, NATA, and AOPA often fight the small airport cause, but it is not their singular issue. The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, in particular, has had success through the years fighting ad hoc small GA airport battles. How much traction the GAAC actually is able to get remains to be seen. At the very least, there is now one more group carrying the industry’s banner. Thanks for reading. jfi