Airport Highlights 2009 0306 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

,~, ~'i, ,, 2008 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES I ~~ decrease of noise mitigation funding. Additionally, Congress should strengthen points of order and budget protections that would make it difficult for appropriators to fund AIP below the authorized amount. 7. CLOSE THE SMALL AIRCRAFT LOOPHOLE For the first time in history, the House passed bill (H.R. 2881) prohibits planes weighing less than 75, D00 pounds from flying unless they meet stringent state 3 noise level requirements. NOISE supports legislation to address a loophole in federal aircraft noise requirements and prohibit the operation of all Stage 2 aircraft -regardless of size. The exclusion in current law allows operation of Stage 2 aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds. NOISE supports legislation introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) to allow operation of stage 2 aircraft for only limited purposes, including: sale outside the United States, scraping the aircraft, or the modifications to stage 3 standards. 8. EXTENSION OF SECTION 160 COMPATIBLE LAND USE PROGRAM The House passed version of the bill extends this important provision NOISE supports the extension of authorization for Vision 100 Section 160 as proposed by the FAA (NextGen section 315.) Section 160 authorized the FAA to make Airport Improvement Program grants to states and units of local government with a goal of reducing incompatible land use around large and medium-sized airports. The FAA has requested athree-year extension within the Next Generation Air Transportation System Financing Reform Act of 2007 (HR 1356) as the program has experienced low utilization due to start-up problems. Hearings on H.R. 1356, which embody the FAA proposal, have been scheduled in both the House and the Senate. 9. CLEEN RESEARCH CONSORTIUM The House passed bill establishes the CLEEN Research Constoium NOISE supports the FAA proposal for development of the CLEEN Research Consortium (NextGen section 606.) The proposal (H.R. 1356) would establish aworld-class consortium, via cooperative agreement with the Center of Excellence, for development, maturing, & certification of lower energy, emissions, noise engine & airframe technology over 10 years. CLEEN would have performance objectives for the reduction of environmental impact including noise, fuel efficiency and alternative fuel use, and emissions. 10. NASA AERONAUTICS RESEARCH PROGRAMS NOISE opposes proposals to slash funding for Aeronautics Research Directorate programs within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which would seriously limit the ability to accomplish their mission. The division is charged by Congress with: "developing, and demonstrating in a relevant environment, technologies to enable ... commercial aircraft [with) performance characteristics [including] noise levels on takeoff and on airport approach and landing that do not exceed ambient noise levels in the absence of flight operations in the vicinity of airports from which such commercial aircraft would normally operate." The Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate is critical to the development of new aircraft technologies and has historically produced important advances and improvements in environmental impacts, performance, efficiency, and safety of engines, airframes, and other aspects of aircraft construction. 11. MAKE ACRD PERMANENT NOISE supports the FAA proposal to make the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRD) permanent (NextGen sections 601 and 102.) The proposed legislation (HR 1356) would add $5 million a year from AIP for environmental research for airport surroundings, including reduction of community exposure to noise, aviation emissions, and other pollution sources. The ACRP has been critical in supporting independent and academic research and development of airport operations recommendations and procedures.