In what has become a yearly ritual, proposed changes to the
federal Essential Air Service program could threaten commercial air
service to Bradford Regional Airport – again.
The Bush administration is exploring ways to eliminate or
significantly cut back the program, which ensures rural airports
receive commercial air service and remain attached to the nation’s
aviation system.
This time around, the battleground circulates around the
proposed fiscal year 2008 Federal Aviation Administration
Reauthorization legislation, which would only fund EAS at $50
million starting in fiscal year 2009 from an Airport and Airway
Trust Fund. The program currently has a funding stream of nearly
$110 million.
All told, according to Regional Aviation Partners, 64 of the 104
EAS airports – including Bradford, DuBois, Oil City-Franklin,
Altoona and Jamestown, N.Y. – are on a proposed list for
elimination of subsidized service
The list stems from a change in the language of the legislation,
which indicates airports located within 230 miles of a large to
medium hub airport will not receive the subsidy. Bradford is
located within 77 miles of the Buffalo-Niagara International
Airport.
“The administration’s annual attempt to undercut the Essential
Air Service program is as predictable as the tides,” U.S. Rep. John
Peterson, R-Pa.’s, Communications Director Chris Tucker said,
adding the language represents a recommendation by the president
and nothing else.
“Congress will have plenty of say in determining the final
composition of the bill,” Tucker said. “And Congressman Peterson,
in his role as a senior appropriator and co-chairman of the
(Congressional) Rural Caucus, will have more of a say than
most.”
Peterson has been a strong proponent for the EAS program and its
value to rural Pennsylvania and elsewhere across the nation. He
also sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which
provides funding for federal programs.
According to the legislation, the major points of which appear
on RAP’s Web site, if the proposed $50 subsidy is insufficient to
compensate subsidized service to all EAS airports, the U.S.
Department of Transportation will provide subsidy first to those
airports that don’t have highway access to a larger airport.
The proposal also fails to reauthorize Section 402 (Adjustments
to Account of Significantly Increased Costs) as included in the
Vision 100 program, along with the Marketing Incentive Program,
which allows airports to market their facilities.
“The administration must come to realize that subsidized
commercial air service to small, rural communities is in every
American’s interest,” officials with RAP said. “The
administration’s proposed changes to the EAS program are a slap in
the face to the majority of current EAS communities.”
There is one bit of good news in the proposed legislation,
however. There is no language included regarding a community match
provision. Earlier, the DOT had called on EAS communities to
contribute either 10 percent or 25 percent of the annual subsidy
amount, depending on the airport’s location to a larger
facility.
Bradford Regional has been attempting to get out from underneath
the EAS program for several years.
One major move which could help that come to fruition is a
proposed change in hub cities from Pittsburgh to Washington under
current carrier Colgan Air Inc. Airport officials are banking on
the change to increase ridership, namely among business and leisure
travelers.
It was previously believed the Democratic takeover of Congress
could enhance funding efforts for the program.
