Critical Importance of FAA Reauthorization Stressed to WATF Board Members

Board Approves 2007 WATF Priorities

Dulles, VA, January 23, 2007 – The Washington Airports Task Force Board of Directors met this morning in Washington, DC, and approved the organization’s 2007 priorities, received a draft background note on Dulles rail in light of the current Tysons tunneling issue, and received briefings from nationally recognized experts on the forthcoming FAA Reauthorization legislation.

Most of the meeting was devoted to discussion of the coming FAA Reauthorization legislation, as this legislation could significantly affect the nation’s ability to modernize its airports and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system in order to meet growing demand for aviation services.  “As air transportation users, the WATF plans to support initiatives to position the nation’s aviation infrastructure for sustained growth,” Leo Schefer said.  A well-funded program for airport expansion and modernization is vital to our economic development.

“We can no longer afford to marginally expand the ATC system we have: fundamental transformation is needed to get an automated system in place.  Will we, as a country, buy into the transformation of controlling airplanes more efficiently in order to serve a growing economy?  There are crucial needs in the aviation sector and this reauthorization is the most important piece of capacity legislation in many decades,” one expert noted.

In the proposed Reauthorization, airports seek legislation which could make them financially more self-reliant and their industry would like the current cap of $4.50 on the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) raised.  In addition, the traditional source of ATC funding and of federal support for airport improvements comes from a 7.5% tax on airline tickets, a source that now is wildly unstable due to decreasing fares, the board was told.

The airport industry, in general, supports major air traffic control capacity improvements “because they understand that the value of airport assets are degraded if we don’t get a handle on air traffic control,” the board was told.   However, several experts expressed the fear that “user fees” and financing will become the focus of discussion to the detriment of the big picture need to improve the nation’s aviation infrastructure. 

The following documents can be found by clicking on the link below:
·         The report to Board members on activity during the past quarter.
·         Priorities approved for 2007
·         Background note on the project to extend Metrorail to Washington Dulles and Loudoun County, as well as its supporting attachments.