Smith to cities: Look into options for air service

McCOOK, Neb. -- Commercial air service at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport has shrunk to a fraction of what it was in recent years and it may be time for city leaders to take another look at airline options. During a visit with the Gazette Thursday Congressman Adrian Smith voiced frustration with the federal government's role in a recent pilot shortage but indicated a proactive approach on the part of local airports may be the best response.

Congressman Smith hinted the situation may be getting exasperated by airlines chasing subsidies, rather than focusing on existing service, and suggested rural airports prioritize reliable departures and affordable ticket prices.

Great Lakes Aviation went from averaging 160 monthly commercial passengers at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport in 2013 down to an average of 30 in recent months. Smith indicated commercial air service in smaller communities flourished when ticket prices were reasonable and passengers weren't concerned with flights being canceled.

Stricter federal regulations pertaining to pilot hours were attributed with kicking off the national pilot shortage in 2014. Congressman Smith said he wished the government wouldn't stand in the way of prospective pilots pursuing their license and based on the number of projected retirees the shortage was likely to get much worse. Smith said there weren't enough current pilots to replace the number of retirements about to take place and the situation was likely to cause a national crisis in the near future.

"It's avoidable, if we get started soon enough," said Smith.

Labor unions who fought for higher wages for pilots flying for airlines such as the Great Lakes are at least partially to blame for the situation, according to Smith.

"They were being paid to fly, rather than paying to fly," said Smith, referencing pilots that he said were now going into debt to the tune of $120,000 to obtain a pilot's license. He indicated those same pilots, prior to the FAA increasing hour requirements, would have been able to get much of the required air time while serving in a co-pilot capacity on smaller planes such as those flown by Great Lakes.

Congressman Smith said rest requirements were also increased, via a FAA regulation, which worsened problems from the increased pilot hours requirement.

Congressman Smith said excerpts from a press release issued Wednesday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency were indicative of Washington D.C. politics today. The release hailed the finalization of the "Clean Water Rule" and stated the rule would make permitting "less costly, easier and faster for business and industry." Smith said the notion that increasing government involvement would somehow increase efficiency and make a process operate easier was simply not true.

Congressman Smith also expressed concerns with long term ramifications stemming from the lack of bipartisanship surrounding the implementation of Obamacare. He indicated such contentious divides often stifled debate, with legislators getting away from the topics at hand and injecting personalities into the conversation.

"Our job is to have rigorous debate. We shouldn't stray away from that and neither should the President," said Smith, adding he was concerned when he looked at how little debate was occurring on many current topics and how often the debate that did take place strayed off course.

"Debate should be focused on topics, not personalities," said Smith.

Congress is working on what Smith said should be the largest trade agreement ever and he emphasized the importance of it being a bipartisan agreement. He indicated he was putting a lot of energy towards its development and said congress had plenty of heavy lifting yet to do, although he was optimistic it would get done.

"Trade is so important, especially to agriculture," said Smith, adding 96 percent of the world's consumers reside outside the United States. Trade agreements impact more than just the ag industry and Smith said his intent was to add value "to anything we make here" and referenced a recent meeting with the Parker Hannifin rubber hose plant in McCook.