Page 32 - Volume 18 Number 10

NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION • focus“Federal contract towers supplement FAA staffed facilities around the country, buttressing a unified national air traffic control system,” said the House letter. “In addition, contract towers play a vital role in connecting smaller airports and rural communities with the national air transportation system.”“As longtime supporters of the contract tower program, we are pleased to see these bipartisan, bicameral letters,” said Dick Doubrava, NBAA Vice President, Government Affairs. “Air traffic control towers are important in ensuring our aviation system remains the safest and most efficient in the world, and we will continue to advocate for this program.”The month of August is traditionally when Congress takes its summer recess, but throughout this past August, momentum continued to build for support of the General Aviation (GA) Caucus, as new members joined in the Caucus’s mission of supporting all of general aviation, including business aviation, on Capitol Hill.Already among the largest congressional caucuses, the GA Caucus reached a new record level of membership with 248 members in the U.S. House, and 41 in the U.S. Senate.Dick Doubrava, NBAA vice-president for government affairs, noted that the milestone “is proof that congressional representatives value the contributions of general aviation to their districts and their states – from business growth to vital air services and assistance in times of need and disaster.”“NBAA welcomes the opportunity to work with House and Senate Caucus members because they understand and appreciate that general aviation creates jobs, helps companies of all sizes succeed, and provides a transportationIn existence for more than 30 years, the federal contract tower program enables private entities to operate FAA control towers at community airports across the country. Last year, the FAA threatened to close 149 FCTs in order to meet mandated budget-curtailment requirements under federal budget sequestration.NBAA was active in efforts to preserve funding for the contract facilities and in mitigating the potential impact of tower closures on regular business aviation operations. Congressional action, prompted by significant outcry from industry stakeholders and advocacy groups, ultimately compelled the Department of Transportation and FAA to spare the facilities. mlifeline to communities across the country,” added NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.Growing participation by members of Congress in the GA Caucus also signals that the leadership and efforts by NBAA and its Member Companies, combined with the ongoing advocacy by the No Plane No Gain campaign, is benefiting the industry. These efforts are critical when issues of importance to business aviation aFre part of the agenda in Washington.ormed in 2009, the bipartisan House and Senate GA Caucuses promote the importance of general aviation in the hallsof Congress. The Senate caucus is co-chaired by Sens. Mark Begich (D-AK) and Mike Johanns (R-NE), while Reps. Sam Graves (R-6-MO) and John Barrow (D-12-GA) co-chair the House GA Caucus. mThis Past August, Congressional Support for Industry Didn’t Take a Recess30 • TWIN & TURBINE OCTOBER 2014