U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack this week signed a conference report which would reauthorize long-term aviation funding levels after years of political gridlock.
The report would also ensure that some communities, like International Falls, access Essential Air Service programs, critical to the continuance of commercial air service.
The report was provided to the Federal Aviation Administration Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act. Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, of which he is vice chair of the Aviation Subcommittee.
“After a five-year delay and 23 temporary extensions, this FAA compromise is critical to advancing the nearly eight percent of our nation’s economy impacted by the aviation industry,” said Cravaack after signing the report. “I commend my colleagues in the House and Senate for working toward a middle-ground solution in the best interest of American workers and their families.”
The legislation, now prepared for passage, ensures long-term aviation safety and infrastructure funding for the next four years.
“Importantly,” notes Cravaack in a prepared statement, “the legislation will not terminate existing Essential Air Service programs in Minnesota.” Conference reports cannot be amended.
“While I have always said that EAS needs to be reformed, I’ve worked hard to ensure this long-term funding bill protects Minnesota aviation and construction workers, and finally provides much needed certainty for family budgets.”
The Essential Air Service program subsidizes airlines for servicing rural communities in markets that would otherwise not be profitable. The $200 million per year program is funded by three sources: fuel surcharges airlines pay when fueling, fees collected through air ticket purchases, and $50 million in overflight fees paid by foreign airlines flying over the United States and using the air traffic control system.
The International Falls airport began receiving subsidies from the program about two years ago to keep air service in the community.
Specifically, the FAA reauthorization freezes the EAS program, limiting participation to those communities currently participating in the program, including International Falls; establishes an average 10 enplanements per day requirement for communities 175 miles or less from the nearest medium or large hub airport; requires a $1,000 per passenger subsidy cap; and authorizes flat line funding for the program for the next four years.
Additionally, in light of Minnesota’s seasonal construction challenges, Cravaack previously secured language to ensure Minnesota airport construction programs are completed on schedule and on budget.
Bob Anderson, chairman of the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission, said Cravaack’s signature to the report is “good news for the Falls and all the air service communities in Minnesota.”
Nothing in the report would have an adverse effect on International Falls, said Anderson.
The bipartisan support for the bill will lock in place funding for the next four years, giving greater stability to local airports.
The bill also continues airport improvement funding, which provides about $1 million to airports.
“We have been kind of banking those, and looking at the possibility of work on the terminal since 1978,” said Anderson. “We have some needs there, so we’re looking to make some changes here in near future, but want to make sure EAS is stable and that we have the airline service.”
Tim “Chopper” McBride, a member of the Falls City Council and airport commission, said the bill assures commercial airline service for International Falls.
“Cravaack was instrumental in making I Falls the poster child for EAS and that it will be funded until 2015 is huge,” he said.
Cravaack and the committee were considering viable EAS projects, said McBride.
“I look at this as a guarantee and as a victory and we move on from here,” he said. “There are goals to eliminate some airports that don’t need it. Some are not viable and some are wasteful and there are goals to eliminate some that don’t need it. But we will be in the program until it no longer exists.”
McBride gave credit for ensuring the continuance of the EAS program to Cravaack, his chief of staff Paul Blocher, the airport commission, Einarson’s Flying Service and city and county officials.
“Our main objective has been to find a carrier and that is guaranteed,” he said. “There are viable carriers out there, like Great Lakes Aviation, and we’ll get the best carrier for our customers that travel out of the International Falls airport.”
