FL Congressman Says Yes... Er, No...

When it comes to all things aviation. one of America's most powerful voices belongs to Florida Republican Congressman John Mica. And you know what he's saying these days? The US government will upgrade airports to accommodate the Airbus A380 over his dead body.

The Financial Times says Mica (right) figures it'll take up to a billion dollars to retrofit as many as 18 airports so that they can land and support the superjumbo.

In Mica's words... it would be "patently unfair" to use taxpayer dollars on beefing up runways, taxiways, air bridges and terminals to take on the double-decker plane... the biggest commercial aircraft ever.

Why? Because of the ongoing World Trade Court row over government subsidies to plane makers.

"Until a US airline chooses to acquire and operate the passenger version of the A380, foreign airlines that operate A380 passenger service to and from the US should pay for any needed infrastructure improvements at the airports they serve," Mica said.

Mica may have to eat his words, however, since the very same upgrades will be necessary for airports to accommodate the new Boeing 747-8 International.

New York's JFK, San Francisco International, LAX, and Miami International airports are all working out the details on necessary upgrades now.

Trade groups say Mica's estimate is overblown. One consultant for ACI America says not all airports will take the most expensive path to handling super-jumbo jets... an assumption the General Accountability Office made when Mica commissioned its report.

Still... the Florida Congressman and head of the House aviation subcommittee says until a domestic US airline buys an A380 -- and that hasn't happened yet -- he's not inclined to pass on any funding requests to his fellow members of Congress.

FMI: www.airbus.com, www.house.gov/mica/