NBAA Shares Concerns About ATC Privatization, User Fees With South Florida Group

Oct. 2, 2015

Members of the South Florida Business Aviation Association (SFBAA) recently heard NBAA’s perspectives on a variety of issues facing the industry, including FAA reauthorization and concerns over proposals for creating a privatized air traffic control (ATC) system, funded by user fees.

“NBAA is working to get the word out about this issue, and encouraging the business aviation community to use our Contact Congress advocacy tool in making their opinions known to their elected officials,” NBAA Vice President of Government Affairs Christa Fornarotto said of her recent appearance at SFBAA’s general meeting in Boca Raton, FL. “There are 110 general aviation airports in Florida, and more than 52,000 pilots. Our industry contributes $7.7 billion to the state economy. Those are huge numbers, and their voices are extremely important.

“Everyone in our industry is concerned about the looming FAA reauthorization battle,” she added. “This isn’t like years past. We must stay engaged in order to confront the dual threats of privatization and user fees to our community’s unfettered access to our nation’s airports and airspace.”

Fornarotto attended the Sept. 29 event at the invitation of SFBAA president Jeff Ramsden, president and co-owner of Ramjet Aviation. “Our members are obviously very concerned over ATC privatization and renewed threats of user fees,” Ramsden said. “We appreciated having Christa here to fill us in about this and other major topics in [Washington] DC.”

NBAA Southeast Regional Representative Greg Voos also emphasized the importance of having Fornarotto, and other NBAA executives, visit with Members around the country.

“It really demonstrates that what’s important to our membership is important to NBAA,” he said. “NBAA leadership has been very proactive in traveling throughout the country, including Florida, to learn firsthand about the challenges facing our members. Working directly with those on the front lines of our industry is vital to promoting grassroots advocacy, and members appreciate that show of support.”

During her visit, Fornarotto also toured the facilities of NBAA Member Company Reliable Jet Maintenance, and visited with Clara Bennett, the executive director for the Boca Raton Airport Authority, and Signature Flight Support and Atlantic Aviation Services.

NBAA representatives will again head to Florida later this month for an Oct. 22 event at the state capitol in Tallahassee concerning the formation of a general aviation caucus in the state legislature.