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Chair -- John D. Porcari, Maryland
Vice Chair -- John C. Eagerton, IV, Alabama
Secretary -- Vacant
Liaison -- Leo Penne, AASHTO

WELCOME to the Standing Committee on Aviation


The Standing Committee on Aviation shall coordinate the efforts of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) and AASHTO on aviation policy matters. The committee shall review aviation policy obtained form NASAO and others; suggest aviation policy for NASAO’s consideration; and recommend aviation policy to AASHTO’s Board of Directors. It shall identify and receive reports from its subcommittees and task forces as to federal regulatory mandates of national concern, and provide reports thereon.
State Initiatives


Washington State Aviation System Plan

Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation is updating the Aviation System Plan to classify the types of airports in order to identify gaps and deficiencies within the aviation system. The Aviation Program will focus on a strategic approach to planning for the future aviation system. The approach will determine how the airport system is currently performing, set objectives for future performance and determine actions necessary to direct the aviation system towards established goals. To Continue reading go to: Washington Aviation System | More State Initiatives »

 

Reports and Studies

Aviation Safety and Security
GAO Report the Subcommittee on Aviation


Challenges to Implementing the Recommendations of the white House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security To read full report go to http://www.epic.org/privacy/faa/gao_aviation_397.pdf (PDF) l More reports »

 

News

AASHTO, Other Groups, Call for Fee Increase to Expand and Improve Airports

AASHTO joined other leading transportation and civic groups on May 11, 2007 as signatories of a letter sent to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee calling for giving federal authorities the ability to increase passenger facilities charges (PFC) to airline tickets for improvements to the nation's overcrowded airports.

AASHTO's Board of Directors supported an increase in the PFC when they adopted policy statement PS-1-06 at their spring meeting in Phoenix. The statement called for the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Airport Improvement Program. To view the policy statement, refer to the May 11, 2007, AASHTO Journal, Vol. 107, No. 19.

According to Travel Weekly, the PFC is currently capped at $4.50 per segment since 2000, with no more than two PFCs to be charged per one-way trip. The Bush Administration has proposed increasing the cap to $6 per segment effective Oct. 1, 2008, and there have been some proposals to raise it to $7.50.

The letter sent committee Chairman Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Ranking Member Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) calling for the PFC increase said, the current rate of $4.50 is only worth $2.86 today when adjusted for construction cost inflation. It argued the PFC should be increased "to recapture this lost value," and indexed for inflation.

In addition to AASHTO, other organizations signing the letter were: the Airports Council International-North America and the American Association of Airport Executives, the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, National Association of State Aviation Officials, Airport Consultants Council, National Air Transportation Association, Associated General Contractors of America, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, American Council of Engineering Companies and National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association.

Travel Weekly reported the Air Transport Association is arguing against a PFC increase, saying it would "raise the tax burden" on passengers.

The Airports Council International-North America released a study earlier this week, concluding airports must invest $87.4 billion over the next four years on runways, terminals, gates and other infrastructure to keep pace with projected passenger and cargo demand.

The U.S. Department of Transportation also released a report the same day, saying the nation's busiest airports and metropolitan areas will require additional airport capacity in the next two decades "if they are to address the flood of flyers headed their way," Travel Weekly reported.

The DOT cited 14 airports and eight metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale.

In some cases, it said, new airports will be required.

"By 2025, cities like Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, and San Diego are going to have to risk the lost revenue, lost business, and lost appeal that comes with chronic airport delays or they're going to have to consider building new airports," Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said.

To read all the Policy Recommendations | More news item---->