Your U.S. Senator from New Jersey, Frank Lautenberg, has attached an amendment to the FY98 Transportation Appropriations bill, H.R.2169, that would clear the way for closing Bader Field in Atlantic City, the site of AOPA's Expo in 1995. Sen. Lautenberg's amendment would release Atlantic City from its legal obligation to keep the airport open. The city signed this pledge when it accepted much sought-after federal airport grant money for improvements to Bader Field - money from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund that comes from the taxes we pay on aviation fuel.
Sen. Lautenberg attached the amendment during debate in the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member. He acted despite an agreement reached recently between the FAA, Atlantic City and the state of New Jersey - with AOPA's help - to keep Bader Field open until at least 2006. Here is an excerpt from the Senate report on H.R.2169 used to justify the closure of Bader Field:
"Despite the City's ongoing investments to ensure that the airport is well maintained for general aviation use, the airport cannot retain an adequate level of operations to justify the continued investments."
If Bader Field is not fully utilized it is because Atlantic City has withdrawn all support for the airport. Atlantic City has let the runways suffer from lack of care and failed to provide general aviation services such as fueling and maintenance. The city pointed to reduced traffic to justify closing the airport, but it was the city's neglect that caused it. Now that has changed, and we have an agreement on Bader Field that will benefit pilots and Atlantic City. Sen. Lautenberg's amendment would undermine that compromise by letting the city out from under that agreement.
This is about more than just one New Jersey airport. In the last twenty years, the number of public use airports in the U.S. has dropped from 6,400 to 5,400. We must draw a line in the sand. Atlantic City cannot be allowed to throw away something built with tax money - your money - simply because of a legislator acting solely on behalf of narrow local interests. If this is allowed to occur, a terrible national precedent would be set for general aviation airports across the country.
On behalf of general aviation pilots nationwide, I'm depending on you to contact Sen. Lautenberg today and urge him to reconsider. Send a copy to Rep. Frank LoBiondo, whose congressional district includes Bader Field. Here are the addresses:
The Honorable Frank Lautenberg
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Frank LoBiondo
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
A House-Senate conference committee will meet shortly to finalize H.R.2169. Please take a few minutes to make this essential communication to Washington. The future of general aviation airports could depend on it! And please send a copy of your letter to me at AOPA Legislative Action, 500 E St., SW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20024. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Phil Boyer