AOPA Government AffairsProtecting the Freedom to Fly

Association of California Airports September 2014

Agenda – Update on Top Advocacy Issues

California State Advocacy

Santa Monica Airport

Other Advocacy Issues

State Advocacy in California

California Aeronautics Account Funding Issues Declining level of funding

No new revenue sources are needed Less than 2% of current aviation user taxes returned to support state airport grants Transferring $4M annually from existing aviation taxes on jet fuel would meet current needs

Reliability of Funding – Worked with ACA and California Airports Council Secured one time transfer of $4M needed to replace funds transferred in FY2009-10 Long term authority for DOT to transfer funds into the aeronautical account with approval of

Cal Transport Commission and Dept. of Finance

State vs Federal Grant Start Requirements FAA requires AIP grant recipients start work within 90 days California code in conflict because of list of ineligible projects and timeline for matching

grants Working on legislation to resolve issues

SB 1072 cleared the way for recreational use liability protection in California, goes

into effect Jan 1

Santa Monica Airport

The pro-airport initiative in Santa Monica qualified for the ballot

The City offered a competing measure

The campaign operation is in place and the first voter contact mailing hits city residents in Mid-August

AOPA has supported airport tenants in a request to the FAA under a Part 16 complaint that would clarify when the city’s grant assurance obligations expire

Won lawsuit (August 19, 2014) that was seeking to keep us off the November ballot. Same Plaintiff files another lawsuit. We are pursuing recovery of attorneys fees and costs

State Advocacy

AOPA’s fight to keep flying affordable and accessible advances Passage of Wisconsin legislation to exempt aircraft owners from

sales tax on parts and labor for maintenance

Kansas bill to exempt amateur-built aircraft from property and ad valorem taxes

AOPA advocacy also cleared the way for recreational use liability protection in California, Georgia, Michigan, South Carolina, and Wisconsin; and legislation to mark low towers in Oklahoma and Washington

Other Advocacy Issues

Progress on Replacements for Avgas – Multiple companies submit high octane fuels for consideration as replacements AOPA’s leadership continues to pave the way for a replacement fuel in 2018 FAA has selected four unleaded fuels for testing as part of the Piston Aviation Fuels

Initiative (PAFI) The most viable will receive fleet wide approval by the FAA

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) AOPA supports new rule interpretation to prohibit commercial drone operations until

the FAA promulgates policies and regulations

AOPA leading effort to transform pilot testing and training The government/industry effort to improve testing and training for future pilots resulted

in draft certification standards for public comment The goal is to improve GA safety and the flight training experience by creating practical

and relevant testing in 2015

AOPA Member Weighs In on ADS B Mandate at NextGen Hearing AOPA is advocating for a benefits driven approach to NextGen and continues to work on

efforts to reduce the certification costs and push the FAA to establish benefits and incentives to equip

THANK YOU!

QUESTIONS?

BACK UP SLIDES

CBP Stop and Search/Cross Border Initiative

CBP Stop and Search

No new reported stops or searches since Mark Baker met with CBP Commissioner Kerlikowske in

late April.

Baker has subsequently met with DHS Secretary Johnson to discuss concerns with CBP law

enforcement.

CBP’s internal top-down review of the current law enforcement program is expected to be

released before the end of the summer.

Legislative language regarding CBP law enforcement actions were included, at AOPA’s request, in

bills approved by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

Cross Border Initiative

AOPA hosted a Cross Border Summit meeting at Oshkosh to get input from users on how to

improve the northern and southern U.S. border crossing process for GA.

Follow-on meeting with government representatives from US, Canada, and Mexico tentatively

scheduled for Washington DC Office in October 2014.

Future Flight Services

AOPA went on record with letter to FAA Administrator demanding a free and open competition of DUATS and Lockheed Martin Flight Services.

AOPA told the FAA it must seek user input on any changes to services as part of the existing and ongoing services.

Because of AOPA’s advocacy efforts, the FAA has indicated it will extend the current DUATS contract through March of 2015 while the agency reviews its plans for a future Flight Service system.