By U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud
(D-Miaine)
The most recent long-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill expired in 2007. Since then, Congress has passed a series of short-term extensions of FAA’s authority. Acting on a longer term bill is important, because the FAA needs to be able to plan ahead and update their programs and operations in order to maximize the safety of the flying public. A properly functioning aviation system also promotes efficiencies and infrastructure improvements that are crucial to our nation’s economy.
Unfortunately, as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently acted on a four-year reauthorization of the FAA, it put some small airports in Maine on the chopping block. I voted against the bill during a committee markup of it because it would eliminate Essential Air Service (EAS) program support for airports across the country, including those in Presque Isle, Bar Harbor, Rockland and Augusta, while preserving EAS support only for Alaska.
The EAS program provides subsidies to air carriers for providing service between small communities and hub airports. The program was originally established in 1978 as part of airline deregulation to ensure a minimum level of air service to smaller communities that might otherwise lose service because of economic factors.
In Maine, our airports – both big and small – serve as significant economic centers of our communities and entire regions. Without them we’d have an even tougher time attracting businesses to our state, promoting economic development and creating jobs.
Before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee considered the FAA measure, I sent a letter to my fellow colleagues on the committee urging them to preserve the EAS program because of the significant, positive impact it has on our state. But before I sent the letter, I solicited advice from Maine airports that currently participate in the program. I think their words speak very clearly about the EAS program’s importance to our state.
Scott Wardwell, the airport director for the city of Presque Isle, told me that with over 150 airports throughout the U.S. receiving an EAS subsidy, simply eliminating the program would have a devastating effect on businesses located in rural communities. He went on to say that in the global economy, businesses need to have access to convenient and dependable air service to compete on the world stage. In Maine, four of the six airports with passenger air service receive a subsidy. One of the four is a full three hours away from the next nearest airport.
M. Allison Navia, the airport manager for the Hancock County (Bar Harbor Airport) told me that the elimination of EAS would have a devastating effect on her airport, the local economy and the surrounding communities. The massive summer tourism industry that even President Obama recently took part in would suffer the loss of air carrier service, effectively removing air travel as a direct mode of transportation to the area. She went on to point out that during the winter months many local businesses, including the Jackson Laboratory, that use the airport for their travel needs would be left without the option and that job losses would also result, hurting many people and their families at a time when we can least afford job losses.
And in a recent Portland Press Herald article, John Guimond, the manager of the Augusta State Airport, also said the loss of EAS program support would have a “devastating impact” on the airport in our capital city.
I support updating the program to improve it and make it more efficient. But eliminating it will force some airports in Maine to close their doors, dealing a significant blow to local economies around our state.
The next step for the FAA bill is a vote in the full House of Representatives. After that, the House bill must be reconciled with one that was recently passed in the Senate, which treated the EAS program better. So while there are a few more steps ahead, throughout the process I will fight to save the EAS program from elimination. At the end of the day, because of their importance to so many businesses and our economy as a whole, we must fight to keep Maine’s small airports open.
