NATA has issued a ‘Call to Action’ encouraging members and others to oppose the Obernolte-Cartwright Amendment to the House of Representatives’ FAA reauthorization bill. “Your voice is crucial to protecting aviation businesses and airports from the security risks and economic consequences of a legislative proposal pending before Congress,” the Association noted.
The Obernolte-Cartwright Amendment favors one class of aviation user at the expense of airports, aviation businesses, and 135 charter operators by requiring all public-use airports to provide transient aircraft parking for operators of private aircraft who don’t want to utilize fixed-based operator services. It would also require airports and FBOs to allow free access and transit between such transient parking and a place outside the airport’s secure perimeter, even if it entails passage through privately owned buildings where escorts may be required.
This proposal ignores the unique, local operating environments of individual airports, as well as the varied needs and concerns of all stakeholders—airport users, airport businesses, and the airports themselves. Airports already have the authority today to implement public ramps and may use AIP funds for this purpose. Many airports offer such facilities; this, however, is and should remain a local decision without a Congressional mandate.
NATA’s other concerns with a transient ramp mandate include:
- The known economic burden to airports and FBOs of providing and maintaining public ramp parking, as well as unknown workforce and infrastructure costs.
- The safety and security risks associated with aircraft operators moving unaccompanied on different types of airports.
- Implications for current TSA security protocols at commercial airports.
- Potential for additional TSA regulations that have unintended consequences for business and general aviation.
- The expectation that FBOs police associated activities, access, security, safety, and any revenue collection.
- The competitive advantage it may give airports over their FBO tenants and creation of unfair private/public competition.
An unfunded mandate for all 5,200 of our nation’s public-use airports would be federal overreach on a purported issue that is far from universal. Instead, Congress should focus on proposals that improve the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of the National Airspace System for all stakeholders.
The House of Representatives will consider its FAA reauthorization bill, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), next Wednesday. NATA supports H.R. 3935 as written and opposes the addition of a transient ramp mandate. You can contact your Representative here to voice your opposition to the Obernolte-Cartwright Amendment. Â
