Bill amends FAA grant process
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — LD 778, an Act to Amend the Process of Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program Grants — a bill designed to decrease the cost of administering FAA grants — has received support from State Representatives Michael Willette and his son, Alex Willette.
“This bill modified Maine Revised Statute Title 6: Aeronautics to streamline the process of obtaining and administering the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grants to primary airports throughout the state of Maine. The cost to local municipalities and counties of administering this program, which are the typical owners and operators of the primary airports, will be reduced,” said Northern Maine Regional Airport Director Scott Wardwell.
According to Wardwell, State Rep. Michael Willette of Presque Isle worked with the NMRA staff in drafting this bill.
“This bill was also supported in Committee by State Rep. Alex Willette of Mapleton. Mike worked with Gov. LePage’s Red Tape reduction staff members and the commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation to build support for this bill within the administration, which resulted in the bill becoming law,” said Wardwell.
Rep. Michael Willette stated, “By simplifying the reporting requirements to only those required by the FAA, the financial burden on local and county governments will be significantly reduced. In these times of increasing burdens on the local taxpayer, it is very important that we do everything we can at the state level to eliminate unnecessary red tape.”
“Many of us were elected to go to Augusta to streamline state government and reduce the cost to the state of Maine taxpayer. This bill does that by reducing not only administrative time for the local airport but MDOT as well. It simply is a win-win for the airports and state government,” added Rep. Alex Willette.
“These changes will decrease the wait time to obtain reimbursement from the FAA,” noted Wardwell.
A primary airport is defined as an airport boarding at least 10,000 passengers annually. There are five primary airports in the state of Maine. These airports include: Bangor International Airport, Hancock County Airport, Knox County Airport, Northern Maine Regional Airport and the Portland Jetport.
“These primary airports are characterized by having a full-time professional airport management, state and federally approved airport master plans and the retention of airport engineering consultants to assist in capital improvement planning,” explained Wardwell.
The AIP program is the primary capital funding source for airports in Maine. Currently the federal portion of these grants is 95 percent with the state of Maine and the local airport owner equally splitting the remaining 5 percent.
“At this level, the state of Maine and the local airport owners are relatively minor partners in the financing of capital improvements,” noted Wardwell.
