RECORD SETTING YEAR FOR TEXAS AVIATION CONFERENCE Summer 2013 By Chris Sasser Texas A&M Transportation Institute RECORD SETTING YEAR TEXAS Aviation he continued economic resurgence CONFERENCE and hotbed issues such as impacts 1, 3-5 Tof the sequester brought out a record crowd for this year’s 31st annual Dave’S HANGAR Texas Aviation Conference. The 2-3 conference was held May 13-15 at the AOPA at THE TEXAS Austin Hilton. Aviation CONFERENCE 6 Over 500 people attended the conference, which was hosted by the 2012 Aviation Texas Department of Transportation’s DIVISION ANNUAL REport (TxDOT) Aviation Division. The number represented an increase in participants 7-10 of 60 from 2012 and 73 from 2011. GRANTS RECEIVED Conference participants included 11 airport sponsors, TxDOT employees, consultants, contractors and exhibitors. SHOOTING FOR THE SKY The conference began with a stirring 12-13 rendition of the national anthem performed by the Hillsiders quartet. The IMPROVEMENTS at HUTCHINSON COUNTY performance was in remembrance of airport payinG OFF! former Aviation Division (AVN) employee TxDOT Aviation Division Director David Fulton delivers his state 14-15 Alton Young, who passed away on of aviation address during the conference’s morning session. January 31, 2010 after a lengthy illness. PALESTINE MUnicipaL Young performed with the quartet and for several years sang the National Anthem to airport CELEbratES 80 open the conference. The Alton Young Memorial Motorcycle Ride, sponsored by YEARS! Brannon Corp, is also an annual conference event to honor Young’s legacy. 16 continued on pg. 3 On March 27, 2013, Governor Rick Perry sent the following letter to the Texas Transportation Commission: Mr. Ted Houghton Chairman Texas Transportation Commission Dear Chairman Houghton: As you are aware, on March 2, federal spending cuts under the Budget Control Act went into effect. Due to the federal government’s failure to implement thoughtful and efficient FISCAL CLIff DISASTER spending cuts, and instead cut critical safety services, starting in early April, federal funding for more than a AVERTED dozen air traffic control towers across Texas will be eliminated. This action far surpasses the grandstanding In the February 2013 edition of Wingtips I expressed my Americans have come to associate with sequestration talks concern regarding the potential impacts of Sequestration. by potentially jeopardizing the safety of Texas emergency Sure enough, the March 1st deadline arrives and FAA is personnel, citizens and visitors. For the protection of Texans required to make budget cuts. FAA’s plan to meet the cuts everywhere and to minimize any disruption of commerce was to furlough most of their employees for one to two days caused by this action, I ask the Texas Transportation a month and close 149 of the 251 Contract Towers Commission to consider options to provide emergency, throughout the country. The Contract Towers closings were temporary assistance for this vital safety network as to begin on April 7, 2013. As Contract Towers provide 30 determined appropriate by the commission. percent of the air traffic control services at towered airports throughout the nation, there was widespread concern as to After no more than 90 days, I ask the commission to the effect that FAA’s plan would have on aviation safety and reevaluate this emergency, temporary funding. the economic impact on the airports and communities that these towers served. In Texas, 14 airports stood to lose their While President Obama has chosen to make sequestration tower operations. as painful as possible, I cannot with good conscience allow him to put his political agenda ahead of public safety. Sincerely, Rick Perry Governor Upon receipt of Governor Perry’s letter, the Texas Transportation Commission scheduled a special meeting for April 4, 2013, to consider approval of the funding DIRECTOR OF is an official publication of the Texas AVIATION Department of Transportation Aviation requested. Fortunately, the funding approved by the David S. Fulton Division. The intent of WINGTIPS is to keep the aviation community and TxDOT AVIATION ADVISORY others informed of local developments COMMITTEE in aviation. Gordon Richardson, Chairman (Caldwell) Printed circulation: 4,000. Pete Huff, Vice Chairman (McKinney) Joe Crawford, Member (Abilene) Comments and suggestions are Robert Bruce, Member (Boerne) welcome. Submission of articles is Michael Collier, Member (Lakeway) subject to space and editorial review John White, Member (San Antonio) and should be directed to the editor at: MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] Chris Sasser Aviation Division, TxDOT Texas A&M Transportation Institute 125 E. 11th Street [email protected] Austin, Texas 78701-2483 DESIGN & LAYOUT 512/416-4500 or 1-800/68-PILOT Jason E. Hranicky FAX: 512/416-4510 TxDOT Publishing and Design Services http://www.txdot.gov/services/aviation/default.htm Communications Division PRINTED BY Copies of this publication have been TxDOT Print Services, Austin, TX deposited with the Texas State Library in General Services Division compliance with the state Depository Law. 2 Commission became unnecessary. Soon thereafter, Congress, realizing the gravity of the situation, passed legislation enabling FAA to cancel the employee furloughs and the closure of the Contract Towers. We appreciate the support shown by Governor Perry, the Texas Transportation Commission, and TxDOT Executive Director Phil Wilson to keep our towers operating. However, the effort to ensure continued operation of our Contract Towers is not over. Congress will soon take up the FY 2014 appropriation bill to fund FAA’s program. It is imperative that the bill include the funding necessary for this vital air traffic service. Air transportation in the United States is not limited by geographical boundaries. It is a national system. The safe and efficient movement of aircraft within this system has always been and should remain a federal responsibility. Contract Towers provide an important and necessary role in the national air transportation system. These towers should continue to be supported by the federal government.◆ TEXAS AVIATION CONFERENCE continued from pg. 1 After introducing the Aviation Advisory Committee and welcoming the gathered dignitaries in attendance, AVN Director David Fulton began the conference with his annual State of the Aviation address. In his address, Fulton noted that the past year was a good one for their aviation program. “During the last year, we issued $150 million in grants for our airport improvement program,” said Fulton. “Since 1992, right after the formation of our division, we’ve invested $1.15 billion in federal and state funds to general aviation (GA) airports in Texas.” Fulton also noted the growth of the Routine Airport Maintenance Program, which in 2012 invested approximately $7 million into preventative maintenance and other improvements at GA airports. Looking forward, Fulton explained that they are beginning the 2nd year of a four-year Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization program. “What’s of primary interest in that (FAA reauthorization bill) is the airport improvement grant program,” said Fulton. “It did decline about four percent during the recession, so it wasn’t too much of a decrease. The good news is that we’ve been ahead of the game because of the stimulus program, and were able to use that money for airport projects.” Fulton rounded out his address by discussing the recently enacted sequestration. He noted that while sequestration did not affect the grant program, it did pose a serious risk to the contract tower program. “To meet their four percent budget cut required by sequestration, the FAA initially decided to furlough most of their employees for 1-2 days a month and close 75 percent of the contract towers in America,” said Fulton. “We were slated to lose 14 contract towers in Texas, three of which provided commercial service. In an unexpected move, Governor Perry asked the Transportation Commission to investigate options to keep the towers open. Once the Commission received the letter from the Governor, they called a special meeting to discuss options on keeping the towers operating on a temporary basis. Obviously I was delighted and pleased.” Fulton noted that the following day USA Today ran a front page story on the potential tower closures, and then the FAA postponed the tower closings until June 15, which was eventually moved to the remainder of the fiscal year 2013. “I’m optimistic that we are done fighting this battle,” concluded Fulton. After a morning break, the next presentation was a corporate aviation panel featuring Director of Valero Flight Services and Texas Aviation Advisory Committee member, John White; President and Chief Executive Officer of Schwertner Farms and member of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, Jim Schwertner; and H.E.B Aviation Manager, Marc Miller. 3 The speakers noted the importance of general aviation to communities in advancing economic growth and also shared their experiences, both good and bad, with smaller airports and advised as to what airport managers can do to provide a positive experience for corporate aviation travelers. The morning session concluded with a high-energy address from Tony Brigmon, the former Southwest Airlines Ambassador of Fun. Brigmon shared his message of communicating to energize, connecting to engage and cultivating relationships to enrich lives. After the afternoon breakout sessions, the day concluded with the annual awards banquet,