Aviation News Item: 11849

25th Aug 2010

Source: aviationweek.com

Airports in all 50 states have benefited from $1 billion in federal stimulus money, but state officials worried that Congress will not pass a true funding bill for the FAA and its infrastructure support programs this year. That's what Henry Ogrodzinski had to say today.

Speaking to Aviation Week this morning, the head of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) complimented FAA for being "much faster than the highway department at getting the money and getting it out to the states."

At this point, he said, all the funding - "an additional $1 billion" - has been obligated and projects have been completed or are under way.

While some have criticized certain projects such as funding for two general aviation fields in Alaska, he said, "I think the money spent on aviation was spent well" and that "there we no boondoggles." As for the Alaskan facilities, Ogrodzinski said, "you can't get to those areas without aviation."

However, he was not complimentary about Congressional action on FAA reauthorization and hoped for alterations of funding formulas for the Airport Improvement Program. He said conversations with legislators and their staffs lead him with "the dimmest view of passage" before the November elections. And chances of passage during the "lame duck" period between the elections and the start of the new congress are "pretty slim."

NASAO's annual conference is set for Sept. 11-15 in Wichita, Kan.

Photo Credit: NASAO

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