J32driver
Strokin it...
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2004
- Posts
- 716
Our airport's future and the nation's general aviation industry are in immediate danger!
On January 9, 2009, Rep. Barney Frank (D-4-MA), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced a bill that if passed as proposed, will severely impact our airport and the entire general aviation industry. Specifically, the proposed bill to reform the "Troubled Assets Relief Program" (TARP) passed by Congress last year will require that businesses trying to recover in the current economic climate must divest all private aircraft and aircraft leases.
Nationally, enactment of this provision will put tens of thousands of aviation-related jobs at risk by devastating the small businesses that fuel and service general aviation aircraft and further harm the manufacturers who are already laying off workers and slowing assembly lines. It will also take a valuable tool away from companies that need general aviation aircraft to operate to and from the thousands of U.S. communities that have little or no scheduled airline service.
Locally, the effect will be devastating on our airport and to the other airports in the region. Many of our aviation businesses will be forced out of business and will vacate their facilities due to disappearing demand for their services. Airport revenues will be drastically reduced forcing us to reduce our workforce and cut services. Even after service and workforce cuts, airports will operate at a deficit and will be forced to increase rates and fees creating a death spiral of increased costs and decreased demand.
The aviation industry understands the importance of providing strong assurances that federal funds are being used wisely to protect jobs and rescue troubled assets. But Congress must craft the legislation so that it doesn’t harm the entire aviation industry and remove valuable aviation assets that serve as vital business tools. Because general aviation is widely recognized as an important economic development tool, Congress should be acting to support this economic sector. We can easily achieve accountability in the disbursement of TARP funds without needlessly penalizing this vital lifeline to rural America.
Please take immediate action to urge Congress in the strongest possible terms to eliminate the general aviation requirement from the TARP language.
On January 9, 2009, Rep. Barney Frank (D-4-MA), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced a bill that if passed as proposed, will severely impact our airport and the entire general aviation industry. Specifically, the proposed bill to reform the "Troubled Assets Relief Program" (TARP) passed by Congress last year will require that businesses trying to recover in the current economic climate must divest all private aircraft and aircraft leases.
Nationally, enactment of this provision will put tens of thousands of aviation-related jobs at risk by devastating the small businesses that fuel and service general aviation aircraft and further harm the manufacturers who are already laying off workers and slowing assembly lines. It will also take a valuable tool away from companies that need general aviation aircraft to operate to and from the thousands of U.S. communities that have little or no scheduled airline service.
Locally, the effect will be devastating on our airport and to the other airports in the region. Many of our aviation businesses will be forced out of business and will vacate their facilities due to disappearing demand for their services. Airport revenues will be drastically reduced forcing us to reduce our workforce and cut services. Even after service and workforce cuts, airports will operate at a deficit and will be forced to increase rates and fees creating a death spiral of increased costs and decreased demand.
The aviation industry understands the importance of providing strong assurances that federal funds are being used wisely to protect jobs and rescue troubled assets. But Congress must craft the legislation so that it doesn’t harm the entire aviation industry and remove valuable aviation assets that serve as vital business tools. Because general aviation is widely recognized as an important economic development tool, Congress should be acting to support this economic sector. We can easily achieve accountability in the disbursement of TARP funds without needlessly penalizing this vital lifeline to rural America.
Please take immediate action to urge Congress in the strongest possible terms to eliminate the general aviation requirement from the TARP language.