Gov. Parkinson
Gov. Mark Parkinson and state House and Senate leaders joined Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer today in protesting USA Today articles that examine how much federal money goes into general aviation airports. (Read USA Today’s opinion piece here.)
(See our post about Brewer’s protest here. And see aviation reporter Molly McMillin’s post on what aviation trade groups say.)
Follow the jump to read letters from Parkinson and Senate President Morris and House Speaker Mike O’Neal…
Mike James
National Editor
USA Today
7950 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, Va. 22107
Dear Mr. James,
In recent weeks, USA Today has published a series articles about general aviation airports, AIP funding and the Essential Air Service program. The aviation industry is a critical piece of economic development throughout our country – and definitely in Kansas.
Kansas has 141 airports serving 7,602 pilots and 6,509 general aviation aircraft. Kansas is also home to 24 charter flight companies, 110 repair stations and 5 flight schools which provide 115 jobs. In addition, there are 91 fixed- based operators in the state. Furthermore, the total economic impact of general aviation in Kansas is $7.1 billion dollars.
Kansas has a lot to offer big businesses. We have a highly skilled workforce, strong infrastructure and terrific schools. But even more critical: Kansas has a strong connection to aviation. Our commercial airports in communities like Manhattan, Wichita, Topeka and Salina provide a connection to big cities across the country.
As Kansas officials work to attract businesses to our state, air transportation is a critical component of all the discussions we have. Most Kansas communities do not have commercial service and are several hours away from an airline hub. General aviation is the primary way goods and services are transported from big cities to small communities, providing the tools that businesses need to function every day. This kind of transportation system – a way to move goods from one coast to another — is critical to our state and national economy.
In terms of the national economy, general aviation provides more than 1.2 million high wage jobs and generates more than $150 billion in economic impact for the United States. The United States dominates the world in the production of general aviation aircraft, half of which are exported, helping with our international balance of trade.
In Sedgwick County, home to Wichita, more than 40,000 jobs are attributed to transportation manufacturing jobs alone. My administration understands the enormous impact the aviation industry plays as we continue to help Kansas and the country come out of the economic downturn, and we remain committed to fostering the industry through these difficult times.
Not only is the aviation industry driving of economic growth and vitality in Kansas, small airports are also used by the National Guard, law enforcement, air ambulances, search-and-rescue operators, flight schools, small businesses, charitable organizations, farmers and ranchers, as well as for medical care and organ and blood transplant. The necessity of a vast aviation industry is evident – for rural communities, for the economy and for emergency providers. We hope USA Today takes these factors under greater consideration in the future.
Sincerely,
Governor Mark Parkinson
JOINT LETTER BY SEN. MORRIS and REP. O’NEAL
Joint Leadership of the Kansas Legislature
October 7, 2009
Mike James
National Editor
USA Today
7950 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, Va. 22107
Dear Mr. James
Over the past two weeks, USA Today has published a series of slanted, one-sided stories about general aviation airports, AIP funding and the Essential Air Service program. We are concerned that these stories not only contain several factual inaccuracies, they ignore the significant value of smaller airports to small towns and local economies throughout the US.
First, your article completely misrepresents the allocation process for Essential Air Service (EAS) and Airport Improvement Project (AIP) funds. While nearly 100 communities have lost commercial airline service in the last year, this funding makes it possible for residents to access many of the services available in large hub cities. EAS funds are given as a voluntary subsidy to airline companies serving non-hub communities.
On the other hand, Airport Improvement Project funding goes to airports. Your contention that smaller airports take money away from large airports is completely false. Larger airports benefit mainly from Passenger Facility Charges (PFC’s) as well as the AIP program. Small airports, meanwhile, only receive AIP funding and have a much lower limit of AIP funds than larger airports. Moreover, AIP funds are awarded to those airports in greatest need of safety improvements.
In your latest article, you castigate the Essential Air Service (EAS) program as money thrown away on small towns with no need for commercial air service. You ignore the fact that the average population of EAS cities is over 80,000, and that the average distance from one of these cities to a commercial airport is over 200 miles. We refer you to the numerous local news stories which have appeared subsequent to your articles which correctly highlight the great economic and civic value of local airports and the EAS.
For those of us who live and work in America’s heartland, these airports are literally a lifeline to access resources, business and medical care. The truth is the majority of the 5,000 communities that rely on general aviation do not have commercial service and are hours away from an airline hub. General aviation is the only way to provide these citizens with the goods and services necessary for their day-to-day lives. That is why the FAA has recognized the singular value to our national economy of a comprehensive nationwide air transportation system and has made maintaining these airports a national priority. Not only are these public assets invaluable drivers of economic growth and vitality, they are also used by the National Guard, law enforcement, air ambulances, search-and-rescue operators, flight schools, small businesses, charitable organizations, farmers and ranchers, as well as for medical care and organ and blood transplant operations.
You have chosen to ignore the fact that general aviation provides over 1.2 million good paying jobs and generates over $150 billion in economic impact for our country. The United States dominates the world in the production of general aviation aircraft, half of which are exported, contributing to our international trade balance.
As elected leaders of our State, we call on you to correct these inaccuracies and to publicly recognize the great value of our general aviation air system, and the EAS.
We look forward to your quick response and a public correction of the facts.
Sincerely,
Senate President Morris/House Speaker Mike O’Neal
2 Comments
USA has once again proven that only the larger scope and picture is their interest. Taking the time to understand how their stories affect and relate to the entities they are slamming is not part of their reporting. Let’s invite them here so we can successfully inform them. Evidently their scope is across the top of the stories.
I agree with the protest. General aviation has grown much over the last 50 years. Its about time that general aviation airports get updated from old fashioned dirt runways to modern concrete runways and tarmacs. Back when general aviation only had Piper Cubs and Cessnas, the fields of the day could handle the traffic. Now, we have many more types and styles of of general aviation aircraft, and the old dirt air fields do not have adequate runway lengths or tarmac space to accomodate most of them. The general aviation airports that I have seen renovated are very capable of handling even private jet craft. That takes a much longer runway to take off and land on than an old-fashioned Piper Cub or Cessna. The renovations are bringing general aviation up to the 21st century, and are necessary for the continuance of general aviation industry. Its tax money well spent.
Jayd041