Wants President Obama To Take The Lead In In Putting The FAA "Back In Business"

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) President Greg Principato (pictured) on Wednesday urged President Obama to bring Congress back into session and resolve the shutdown of the FAA in order to “put the FAA back in business.”

In his letter, Principato stressed that as a result of the FAA shutdown, “Airports, large and small, are left without the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding needed to move forward on approved safety and security construction projects; projects which in the majority of cases have already been put out to bid. This doesn't include the more than 200 projects where FAA stop work orders have left construction sites at airports empty and construction crews without paychecks.”

Principato’s letter went on to emphasize that, “…when the FAA’s operating authority expired so did its ability to collect taxes so the money passengers pay to help maintain the national aviation transportation system when they buy their tickets is no longer collected.”

It is not only about funding, as Principato also highlighted in his letter, “… there are the everyday things that the aviation industry relies on the FAA and its employees for – like approval for environmental and noise projects. This has a direct impact on the ability of every airport in this country to do their job.”

“If Congress truly expects airports to continue to meet the numerous federally mandated safety, security and infrastructure projects, you need to call Congress back into session so the FAA is put back in business now, not a month from now,” Principato said.

FMI: www.aci-na.org