For Immediate Release

Airports Testify on FAA Reauthorization

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 11, 2009)— Airports Council International– North America (ACI-NA) President Greg Principato testified today before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Aviation on the “Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2009.” Principato expressed the need for increases in the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) and Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding, to finance essential airport construction projects.

“Airports are committed to maintaining their facilities and preparing for the expected 25 percent growth in service that the FAA predicts the industry will face over the next eight to 10 years.  They estimate that 1 billion people will take to the sky,” said Principato.

However, Principato told the subcommittee: “The purchasing power of the PFC has been greatly diminished since it is not indexed to inflation. The current maximum PFC of $4.50 is worth only $2.46 today when construction cost inflation figures are applied. That is why ACI-NA strongly supports an increase in the PFC ceiling to at least $7.50 with indexing for construction cost inflation.”

Principato also called for the strengthening of the AIP program. “Without a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill, many airports have received only 35 percent of their anticipated funds from AIP.  This has forced delays in essential infrastructure projects as airports have been unable to make the investments necessary to improve safety and security and to relieve passenger delays and congestion.”

Other issues discussed in the hearing included airport environmental improvement plans and the development and deployment of Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) improvements. Principato also expressed the concerns of ACI-NA members about proposals to mandate specific rescue and fire fighting standards at airports, which he explained would dramatically increase equipment and staffing requirements for airports, thereby resulting in expanded operating costs.

“Airport capital needs are growing and we must act now if we are to meet the future demands of the system.  Congress, in reauthorizing FAA, has an excellent opportunity to improve and modernize the public-private system for funding airport infrastructure. In order for that to be a success, the FAA reauthorization bill must include the financial tools that airports need to move in this direction.”

Principato's Testimony

About ACI-NA
Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America.  More than 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.

CONTACT:
Victoria Houghton, vhoughton@aci-na.org, (202) 861-8080
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org, (202) 293-4537