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Issues: Rural Air Service“Planes on the plains, particularly in Nebraska, aren't extraneous-they're essential.”
Senator Nelson has been a strong advocate for rural airports and has worked to keep two key federal aviation programs, Essential Air Service and the Airport Improvement Program, working in Nebraska. Essential Air Service The Essential Air Service (EAS) program promotes accessibility and growth in rural communities. It maintains the availability of air service by providing a subsidy for air service at rural airports like those in Alliance, Chadron, Kearney, Grand Island, McCook, and North Platte. Hundreds of thousands of Nebraskans live hours from the two large airports in Nebraska, or others in neighboring states. Nebraska's two largest airports are only 57 miles apart and in a state that covers 77,000 square miles, rural air service is indeed essential. Many Nebraskans depend on the Essential Air Service to keep rural airports operating and to keep their communities connected to the nation's transportation infrastructure and to provide economic opportunity. Prices for air travel in smaller communities are higher than similar trips between hub airports. The EAS program keeps the cost of rural air service from becoming prohibitive to the consumer. Last year Senator Nelson worked to expand the availability of rural air service and worked to increase the funding of EAS to $113 million. The additional funds helped insure that rural air service remained strong despite the financial impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The White House budget proposal for the fiscal year 2004 cut EAS funding to $50 million and required communities to raise either 10 or 25 percent of their subsidy cost. Senator Nelson opposed the drastic cuts and the local match requirement and on June 12, 2003 the Senate passed an amendment originally co-sponsored by Senator Nelson that ensured the full funding of the EAS. Airport Improvement Program The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides approximately $1 million a year for critical runway and terminal enhancements and security improvements to rural airports with more than 10,000 departing passengers annually. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the resulting drop-off in air travel, three Nebraska airports dropped below 10,000 passengers. Senator Nelson's legislation to give these small airports an extra year to recover, the Small Airport Relief Act, was added to the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill in June of 2003. Senator Nelson believes that the AIP funds will be critical to improving security at rural airports and helping small airports rebound from the impact of September 11th. Senator Nelson will continue to be an advocate for these and other rural air service programs that will keep our small communities on the runway to prosperity, and keep "planes on the plains." Related Links:
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Rural airports connect our communities to the nation's aviation and commerce system. Rural airports encourage business investment and create opportunities for economic growth in the communities they serve.