Seven Groups Sign Letter To Appropriations Committee Leaders

Seven nationwide aviation associations have sent a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees urging them to not forget about local airports as they work through emergency appropriations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter is addressed to Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) as well as Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Kay Granger (R-TX). The groups, which represent the general aviation community including hundreds of thousands of general aviation pilots, businesses, and manufactures, say they are thankful for the tremendous efforts to confront the COVID-19 pandemic and "respectfully request, should Congress consider supplemental appropriations, that any assistance to our nation’s airports include a specific amount be set-aside exclusively for small and general aviation airports that serve thousands of communities across the country and which have also been impacted by this situation.

"General aviation airports have routinely played a critical role in ensuring that volunteer pilots can deliver goods and services during times of natural disasters and emergencies. The general and business aviation industry is comprised of a diverse fleet, capable of rapidly responding to needs in every part of the country and transporting time sensitive supplies, medical and testing equipment, organs for transplants, and key personnel and patients on demand.

"Airports in small and rural communities are often the economic engines and lifelines for many towns and cities across the nation," the letter concludes.

The letter was sent by AOPA, EAA, GAMA, HAI, NATA, NBAA and NASAO.

FMI: Letter text