AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - August 2017 - 28

GUEST EDITORIAL

Take FLIGHT

BY SEN. JAMES INHOFE

Expanding investments at small airports
IN JULY 2016 third class medical reform, the cornerstone
of the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 legislation, was signed into
law. Three months ago, those reforms officially took
effect as BasicMed. Third class medical reform is a
game-changer for pilots across the country-and it
would not have been enacted without the strong and
consistent advocacy of the general aviation community.
As a certificated pilot with more than 11,000 flight
hours, I know firsthand the needs of pilots, the gen-

INSIDE THE FLIGHT ACT
Improving the network of GA airports
The bipartisan Forward Looking Investment in General Aviation, Hangars
and Tarmacs Act (S.1320) was introduced in the U.S. Senate June 8, 2017,
and in the U.S. House of Representatives June 13. Here are some highlights of the bill:
* Reforms Non-Primary Entitlement (NPE) funding. As it stands, airports
are granted $150,000 in annual funds under the Non-Primary Entitlement
(NPE) program. Under the FLIGHT Act, airports would be given greater
flexibility to roll over their annual entitlement from the current four years
to five years. The legislation also would authorize the FAA to reduce the
local match for certain nonprimary airport projects to 5 percent.
* Improves project delivery. The bill extends to GA airport projects the
same expedited and coordinated environmental review process used for
projects at large airports.
* Establishes a pilot program for public/private partnerships at GA airports to jumpstart a reinvestment and revitalization movement for airports.
* Designates certain airports across the country as "Disaster Relief
Airports." This new category of airports would be provided specific NPE
funds for emergency planning, equipment, or facilities in the case of
natural disasters.
* Clarifies aeronautical activity at airports by ensuring that the construction of recreational aircraft is an aeronautical activity.
-AOPA staff

U.S. Sen. JAMES
INHOFE (R-Okla.)
is a member of the
Senate Commerce,
Science, and
Transportation
committee.

28 | AOPA PILOT August 2017

eral aviation community, and how to improve airport
infrastructure. A robust general aviation airport system
substantially affects safety, the efficiency of large commercial airports, emergency medical operations, law
enforcement activities, agriculture activities, and small
businesses throughout the United States. Further, these
airports manage military-related and national security
air operations, directly supporting the readiness and
training of our armed services.
I continue to observe the need to expand investments at general aviation airports, leading me to
introduce the Forward Looking Investment in General
Aviation, Hangars, and Tarmacs Act of 2017, the
FLIGHT Act. This legislation will give general aviation

airports more flexibility to facilitate greater investment
in their airport infrastructure.
First, my legislation would give general aviation
airports more time to accumulate FAA funding and
annually make available discretionary funds for priority projects through a nationally competitive process.
Second, this legislation would extend key environmental
streamlining reforms used by major airports to general
aviation airport construction or improvement projects.
Today, the FAA's environmental review processes
are especially burdensome on small airports, which
operate under limited resources. These reforms
would empower general aviation airports with flexibility to devote needed resources to improving their
infrastructure.
General aviation airports are hubs of economic activity and job growth for their communities. However, some
have difficulty attracting the public/private partnerships
that can enable strong economic activity. The FLIGHT
Act establishes a pilot program to encourage public/private partnerships. Participating airports would be able
to use federal resources to attract private-sector investment for the construction of private hangars, business
hangars, or investments in other facilities.
Finally, this legislation would designate certain airports across the country as "Disaster Relief Airports"
in areas subject to natural disasters. Often with little warning natural disasters cause general aviation
airports to become extremely active with aircraft movements and the need to stage responders or supplies for
distribution as part of the response effort. Many general aviation airports lack the resources and personnel
to adequately prepare and respond to disasters. With a
disaster relief designation, airports would have access
to funding set aside for airports to use for required
emergency planning, equipment, or facilities.
As AOPA members know, the vast majority of
airports across the nation support general aviation
activities. This legislation builds on past congressional
efforts to support general aviation airports and, ultimately, grow the positive impact general aviation
airports have on the larger airport ecosystem.
I look forward to attending EAA AirVenture in
Oshkosh this year and once again hearing your feedback
on issues facing the general aviation community and
what general aviation priorities can be best addressed
legislatively.
AOPA
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - August 2017

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