... acting associate administrator for airports Catherine M. ‘Kate’ Lang suggests that the time has come for the industry to “rethink” how general aviation airports are categorized. “When I look at where there are deficiencies, one is that we don’t have a strategic way to look at GA airports,” says Lang. “All of these airports play different roles.”
Despite the fact that the U.S. air transportation system and network of airports is unmatched globally, explains Lang, there is still room for improvement. A starting point is with GA airports. Case in point, she says, is the Van Nuys Airport, which plays a significant role in relieving congestion at the commercial air carrier airports in Southern California. But even on its own merits, Van Nuys plays a key transportation role – “This is a major regional airport,” she comments. There are, of course, others: Ft. Lauderdale Executive, Teterboro, Chicago Executive, Spirit of St. Louis and St. Louis Downtown all come immediately to mind [my list, not hers].
Lang says a renewed focus needs to be put on what is the role that a general aviation airport plays in a community or a region. For instance, small GA facilities may not play the major regional role of a Van Nuys, but they may be critical links for local law enforcement and medical transport. In the future, FAA needs to invest by determining what is the “fundamental role” that the GA airport plays. To get there, Lang says, the “GA world” needs to consider how the agency might categorize general aviation airports in the future to help FAA best determine where to direct funding.
“We need a strategic way to think about 2,700 airports,” she says.
Meanwhile, on the topic of FAA reauthorization, still held up in Congress, Lang says the lack of a long-term bill is wreaking havoc on many airport projects. “It’s injuring the ability to get jobs done,” she relates. “It is harmful.”
It’s a message that the industry understands well, particular those airport managers who are trying to get improvements accomplished at their facilities. Yet, our good friends on Capitol Hill remain unable to sit down and hash out their differences. A common refrain these days from Congress is about the need to create jobs, something which airport projects will certainly accomplish. Instead, our leaders would rather focus almost exclusively on the non-union jobs at FedEx and prefer to hold the system hostage as a result.
Thanks for reading. jfi
[Look for more from the interview with FAA’s Kate Lang in the upcoming June issue of AIRPORT BUSINESS magazine.]