Jan. 26, 2015
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen addressed the Chicago Area Business Aviation Association’s annual meeting on Jan. 23, providing members with an overview of the aviation outlook in Washington, DC for 2015, as well as discussing regional business aviation issues.
Topping NBAA’s agenda this year is passage of new multi-year FAA reauthorization legislation before the current authorization measure expires Sept. 30. Bolen noted the difficulties faced by the FAA and the business aviation community during the last FAA reauthorization cycle, which involved several last-minute extensions of FAA’s authority and funding disruptions. Bolen recalled some of the costs and challenges for the agency and industry when FAA was forced to operate on three- and six-month extensions.
As the 114th Congress gets underway, Bolen said Reps. Bill Schuster (R-9-PA), chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and Frank LoBiondo (R-2-NJ), chairman of the aviation subcommittee, have both indicated they want to get an FAA reauthorization bill done on or before the Sept. 30 deadline. “They don’t want, at a leadership level, to undergo a period of short-term extensions.”
Bolen said that view is shared by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-4-OR), the ranking member of the T&I Committee, and by Senate leaders as well. “So we enter the year with a lot of hope we can get a bill done in a timely manner,” said Bolen.
There was no mention of aviation user fees in President Obama’s recent State of the Union address, but Bolen said it “would not be surprising” if the president once again included a proposal for a $100 per-flight-fee on turbine aircraft in the budget he sends to Congress.
“Capitol Hill has been pretty clear that it does not believe in that approach, and so for the last several years we’ve seen that proposal has not gained traction,” Bolen said.
“We will be very much on top of that situation,” he added, and said if the president once again makes that proposal, “we’ll be on Capitol Hill and try to make sure that every elected representative understands why the fuel tax is superior to user fees, and the best way to generate revenue from our industry.”
There has been concern expressed by business aircraft operators that when FBO leases at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) expire over the next seven years that Chicago’s Department of Aviation will follow through on its desire not to renew them.
“NBAA believes that it is critical for business aviation to have access to all airports and airspace, and we want to be engaged on these issues at important airports like Midway,” Bolen said.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.