2024 Forum: Four Re-Authorization Issues in Congress?

1. Pollution was increased by expanding MSP Airport routes and schedules, supposedly for economically helpful air travel in Minnesota. Do you think more connecting passengers and freight passing through MSP Airport are helpful?
2. What about the MAC Charter changes that no longer require attention to environmental impacts (or public health and safety) near our Metro airports? Will that be a federal responsibility now?
3. Are you familiar with the Federal Rules discussed in Congress since 2015, a common metric (65 decibels ground noise intensity) as the threshold for any program reducing pollution?

The South Metro Airport Action Council (SMAAC) usually opens News Blogs and holds “Town Hall Forums.” In election years the SMAAC Forum Committee raises awareness of the Metropolitan airport or aviation situation.

This year, we have chosen “How should Airport Green-House Gas and other pollution be managed?”  That topic clearly raises a variety of issues: Local, State, and Federal policies and budgets define revenue sources separately. Management depends on the class of users (Private, Commercial, or Military) Airports,

Enroute air traffic control, communications, and security; flight schedules and security). Federal Aviation Laws and Rules define all of these by Agreements with Airport Sponsors, Aircraft suppliers and leasers, flight operations, and safety, security, environmental, and economic planning. The biennial FAA, EPA, NTSB, State Department, TSA  and other Re-Authorizations are complex, political, related and begin as Bills in the U.S. House of Representatives.

As air transportation grew and provided economic benefits, airports were expanded or built and planned to accommodate neighborhood impacts. These plans were made in part through local land use (expansion or relocation of the airport), since more land was usually needed. The cost of Commercial Airports is funded by landing fees and gate leases. Airlines and cities (or other airport sponsors) plan airports nd their uses , trading off costs and benefits. Most large airports were moved away from the city sponsoring the airport due to the noise and pollution increases of larger jet airliners.

     In our Metro area, business, industry, home, hospital, and school accommodations were related to economic growth: new aviation services, manufacturing, employee residences, --and consumers --increase tax revenues. Northwest and Sun Country were “Hometown” businesses in the 1960’s as jets were introduced. The Metro Airports Commission was created as MSP airport managers (not Sponsor). MAC by Statute was to prepare  “Comprehensive Plans” for MSP Airport and later for the “Reliever Airports.”