Centennial Airport Business Association Newsletter

Issue: # 8

February 2010

User Fees Axed from Proposed FAA Budget
Aviation Week

The FAA's fiscal 2011 budget request signals that the Obama administration has dropped its plans to introduce aviation user fees, at least for now.

The budget proposal, released Tuesday, had no reference to funding the aviation system through user fees. This was a notable omission, as the FY2010 budget released last year included footnotes referring to a new user-fee approach. The Transportation Dept. never followed up with a detailed proposal, but the footnotes alone were enough to spark protests from user-fee opponents such as general aviation groups.

House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) welcomed the dropping of the user-fee language. "I commend the President and Transportation Secretary [Ray] LaHood for not rehashing this issue - no aviation user fees in the budget is a big step forward," Costello said. "The House has demonstrated in no uncertain terms that user fees are unacceptable." Costello and more than 100 other lawmakers wrote to the White House last October calling for it to not include a user fee proposal in the budget.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, meanwhile, said while it is "gratified that the Obama administration has heeded the GA community's concerns, we remain vigilant to ensure the user fee idea remains on hold."

The White House is recommending a total of $16.47 billion in funding for FAA in FY2011, a slight increase from the $15.99 billion enacted by Congress for FY2010. The bulk of the increase comes in the operations line, which receives $9.79 billion versus the $9.35 billion in FY2010. Facilities and equipment funding will increase from $2.94 billion in FY2010 to $2.97 billion in FY2011. Airports will receive $3.5 billion in grants, the same as in FY2010. The research and development budget is essentially unchanged at $190 million.

The DOT said the portion of the budget supporting the NextGen modernization plan has increased by 32% to $1.1 billion. The budget includes $153 million for air-to-ground data communications, an increase of $106 million over FY2010. Within the operations budget, $14 million is earmarked to fund 82 additional positions to develop flight standards and provide increased aircraft certification services.

In the broader DOT budget, $182 million is proposed for the essential air service (EAS) program, $18 million less than FY2010. The small community air service development program sees its funding cut entirely - although Congress has traditionally restored this funding in previous budgets.

CABA Attends Legislative Reception

By Gene Langfeldt

On January 27^th the Colorado Airport Operators Association ("CAOA") hosted their annual Colorado Legislator Reception at the Brown Palace. The event was well attended by the CAOA membership and guests which included airport operators, aviation consultants and engineers intent on educating their local legislative members about issues affecting Colorado's airports and general aviation businesses. This year, CABA board members Gene Langfeldt, Iver Retrum and Mike McCready, were graciously invited, and accepted an invitation from the CAOA leadership to attend the reception.

At the event, CABA board members concentrated on meeting and greeting the various attendees, educating them on CABA, and the issues that affect our membership. The board members concentrated on detailing concerns to our representatives regarding federal funding, the TSA's Large Aircraft Security Program and potential GA badging program. The board members also made it a special priority to educate our representatives on the Colorado Aviation Fuel Excise and Sales Tax, and subsequent implications should the tax be eliminated, which has been aggressively proposed and lobbied by the airline industry over the last several years. The fuel tax revenue is a critical component for funding our Colorado commercial and general aviation airports. The funds self support CDOT's Aeronautics Department and are used to subsidize Federal aviation grants for capital infrastructure and construction projects throughout the state.

As it has been for many years, the event was a great success, and the CABA leadership was extremely grateful to have been invited. The CABA leadership will continue to seek out such opportunities in the future to voice our concerns and advocate our views on behalf of the membership

Gene Langfedlt

Committee Chair

Legislation and Community Outreach Committee

New Water Project Helps Grow Business Power Corridor

By Shadia Lemus

The Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority (ACWWA) announced a major water deal, dubbed the ACWWA Flow project, in December 2009 to acquire water rights along the South Platte River in Weld County. ACWWA provides water and sanitary sewer service to the business community surrounding the Centennial Airport.

The ACWWA Flow project, estimated to cost $153 million, will ensure delivery of water to meet future demands through the purchase of renewable water rights and development of necessary water infrastructure.

ACWWA understands that water is an essential resource for the growth and prosperity of Arapahoe County's business corridor. The Authority and its Board have been working to identify a renewable water source for over 10 years. They are thinking ahead and taking action to assure that the business corridor has a secure water supply.

Water is expected to be pumped into the service area by 2012. All consumers will have a fair share in paying for the project, both residential and commercial. Commercial customers will pay a Water System Investment Fee based on their tap size, and residential customers will pay $26.50 per ¾" residential tap and increases with tap size.

An open house has been set up for members of the public who want to learn more about the project. The open house will take place on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the ACWWA offices, 13031 E. Caley Avenue, Centennial, CO 80111.

Those interested in immediate project details can log onto www.arapahoewater.org or call 303.790.4830.

Grace Flight of America Call to Arms
By Cory Tipton

Grace Flight of America (GFA), the only national Volunteer Pilot Organization, is looking to grow its presence and awareness in Colorado. GFA recently gained a large group of volunteer pilots in New Mexico, and so its presence is expanding greatly in the Rocky Mountain Region and the West. However, we cannot grow this great organization in the Rocky Mountain region without volunteers, leadership, pilots and missions. WE NEED LEADERS IN COLORADO. Please join us and VOLUNTEER TODAY to help build the Grace Flight presence in Colorado, get the word out to requesting agencies, and to assist those in need throughout this great state.

The mission of Grace Flight of America is to help people in need of free air transportation for medical and humanitarian purposes. It is our goal to remove the transportation burden from patients so they can get to specialized medical treatment not available to them locally and focus on getting well. Many of our patients do not have access to conventional transportation or are too ill to drive or fly commercially. Grace Flight is here to help! Completely free of charge! Grace Flight of America relies completely on volunteer pilots and donations from individuals, foundations, clubs and corporations.

If you would like to join GFA, or volunteer in a leadership role in Colorado, please contact:

Cory Tipton - 303-220-8428 - corytipton@thetiptonlawfirm.com

Lori Eddlemon - 303-810-6386 - lorieddlemon@gmail.com

Join The Grace Flight Group!

Grace Flight on Linked In

Grace Flight on Facebook

Grace Flight Website

Save the Date!

2010 Upcoming Events

March 24th CABA Annual Membership Meeting 4pm-6pm

April 28th Aviation Saves... Industry Luncheon, XJet Hangar 11 am -1 pm

April 28th Aviation Saves... 12 pm - 7 pm

April 30th Metro State Aviation Professionals Association Golf Tournament

Colorado National Golf Club 8:00 AM Shotgun Start