The staff at the Helicopter Association International tell ANN that ten Members of the U.S. Congress have signed a letter to the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies, Congressman Ernest Istook (R- Oklahoma); as well as Ranking Member, John Olver (D-Massachussetts), requesting a $7 million appropriation in the Fiscal Year 2004 Department of Transportation (DOT) Appropriations Bill.

That appropriation would earmark funds for the development of a program office in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Southwest Region to administer and develop a weather, communications, and surveillance infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico for low-level helicopter operations.

The letter was signed by Congressmen Kevin Brady (R-Texas), Richard Baker (R-Louisiana), Ron Paul (R-Texas), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Gene Green (D-Texas), Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), William Jefferson (D-Louisiana), Joe Barton (R-Texas), Jo Bonner (R-Alabama), and Chris John (D-Louisiana).

HAI President Roy Resavage has worked closely with Gulf Coast Members of Congress to advocate on behalf of Gulf of Mexico helicopter operators to facilitate FAA development of a low-altitude weather, communications, and surveillance infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico.

As oil exploration and production moves further offshore (up to 200 miles), the need is greater now than at any other time in previous years. The fleet of helicopters operating in the Gulf is evolving to larger, more powerful helicopters capable of flying the longer routes and carrying more passengers and cargo. The 4,000 to 9,000 helicopter flights each day in the Gulf need and deserve the same Air Traffic Control Services that are the norm in the rest of the National Airspace System.

The House and Senate versions of the FAA Reauthorization Bill contain language that would allow the FAA to begin formulating a Gulf infrastructure, and HAI is aggressively working with House and Senate Appropriators to achieve a $7 million funding earmark for the project to get underway. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.

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