Special help appropriate for small-town airports

Small rural airports are a vital tool in economic development, but when the going gets tough, it's hard to keep the passengers going.

Such is the case now, when the slowing economy may cause many Nebraska airports to fall below the threshold required to qualify for $1 million in federal assistance through the Airport Improvement Program in 2009.

Nebraska's two U.S. Senators, Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns are worried that small airports will be hit by a double whammy of declining passenger numbers and cuts in federal funding.

They've seen it happen before. Back in 2001 after the September 11 terror attacks, airplane ridership significantly decreased, resulting in many rural airports falling short of the enplanement threshold required for funding.

That would not only cut improvements at the small airports, it could potentially cut the local tax base supporting them by a long-term decline in business.

To stave off economic disaster for the airports and communities they serve, Congress and the FAA worked together to extend AIP funding to small rural airports that might fall below the 10,000 passengers/year threshold required for $1 million in federal funding.

A letter, signed by Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich as well as Nelson and Johanns, noted that "these rural airports serve as a critical economic engine for many smaller communities by connecting communities to business, providing economic development, infrastructure and security improvements.

"In order to make sure airport development stays on track, we ask the FAA to utilize all available discretion and funding flexibility to support rural airports," according to the letter.

We've frequently heard the current economic situation compared to the Depression, but in actuality, it's far from being that bad.

For small town airports, however, neither is a comparison to 2001 accurate; the current situation is worse.