Financial relief could be on the way for GA businesses hardest hit by security-related measures resulting from 9/11 and the war in Iraq. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed H.R. 2115, which includes a subsection (scroll for Sec. 428) allocating $100 million for specific airports and related businesses that have become GA icons in the ongoing rhetoric over security measures and their economic impact on GA. In general, the bill, which must still be passed by the House, approved by the Senate and signed by the president, applies only to those businesses and airports that have been closed or continuously affected by security-related restrictions and closures since 9/11. Topping the list are GA entities at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which has been virtually closed to GA since 9/11. Next are the so-called DC-3 airports, College Park, Potomac Airfield and Washington Executive/Hyde Field, which have been closed to transient traffic since the attacks. Also up for funds are banner towers and others affected by the ban on stadium overflights and flight schools hurt by the restriction on foreign students taking training on aircraft larger than 12,500 pounds. To qualify for a grant, a business has to meet the qualifications and provide sworn financial statements or other data proving the lost revenue and additional costs incurred by the restrictions. The alphabet groups are restrained in their enthusiasm for the bill, possibly because of previous false starts and the knowledge that the White House appears from its record thus far to be against GA business relief. We'll keep an eye on this one as it moves through the process.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/leadnews/ga-relief-proposed-again