It’s summer – the time of year for country fairs and state aviation conferences. On Monday, I was honored to speak at the West Virginia Aviation Conference, while ACI-NA president Greg Principato spoke at the Florida Airports Conference.
Senator Rockefeller (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, was unable to attend the conference in person, but he did send a welcome message emphasizing the importance of aviation in West Virginia. Impressive numbers – more than$3 billion in revenues and approximately 50,000 jobs directly or indirectly driven by aviation. He also provided an update on FAA reauthorization, indicating he was “annoyed” at those who are advancing “parochial issues” preventing the bill from moving forward. However, Senator Rockefeller was pleased that the airline safety provisions were enacted as part of the legislation (H.R. 5900) extending FAA reauthorization until September 30.
The conference was well attended with many very informative speakers, including my friends and colleagues Lisa Picionne of NBAA and Henry Ogrodzinski of NASAO. It was also great to hear from Mike Boyd from Boyd Group International, who encouraged the airports to consider “air service access, airline alliances, regional gateways and global connectivity”, rather than only focusing on air service development.
The entrance to Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, WV.
My presentation focused on proposed regulations and advisory circulars affecting airports. I emphasized that there is no cumulative assessment of the growing regulatory burden on the industry, nor understanding of the fact that airport revenues are down. The bottom line is that there is a limited amount of airport and federal money available to pay for new rules and ACI-NA will continue to submit comments protecting the interests of the airport industry. However, it was a pleasure to announce that the problem statement ACI-NA submitted to ACRP on behalf of our Small Airports Committee, “Analysis of Cumulative Cost Associated with Regulatory Compliance and its Impact on Small Airport Viability” was accepted (03-25) as one of the approved 2011 projects.
The conference also provided a wonderful opportunity to catch up with Rick Atkinson, Director of Yeager Airport and to meet Jerry O’Sullivan, Manager of Greenbrier Valley Airport. While I was unable to attend the tour of the Greenbrier Airport conducted as part of the Conference agenda, I did go by on my way home and was impressed at the terminal improvement program (both interior and exterior) that is just about completed. Also the upgrades to the passenger screening checkpoint- in total a $4 million project.
It was also great to see Susan Chernenko, who does a fabulous job as Director of the West Virginia DOT Aeronautics Commission. The State Aeronautics Commission held one of their quarterly meetings following the conference and I was fortunate to meet two members of the Commission - Chairman Eldon Haught and Richard Wachtel. Both gentlemen were well informed about state and national aviation issues and it was a pleasure to talk with them.
I was sorry that I could not stay longer at the conference and hear presentations from Kate Lang, FAA Acting Associate Administrator for Airports, Gael Sullivan, Senior Professional Staff for the Senate Aviation Subcommittee and Sherry Wallace, Roanoke Airport’s Manager of Marketing and Air Service. I am sure they all provided great information for the attendees and helped contribute to the success of what appeared to me to be a very successful conference.