GENERAL AVIATION COALITION
members:
Aircraft Electronics Association
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Experimental Aircraft Association
General Aviation Manufacturers Association
Helicopter Association International
International Council of Airshows, Inc
National Aeronautic Association
National Air Transportation Association
National Aircraft Resale Association
National Agricultural Aviation Association
National Association of State Aviation Officials
National Business Aviation Association
Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
Small Aircraft Manufacturers Association
Soaring Society of America
University Aviation Association
U.S. Parachute Association
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Chairman: Tom Poberezny, EAA President
EAA Aviation Center, P.O. BOX 3086, Oshkosh WI 54903
April 15, 2002
The Honorable _____
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator _____:
The undersigned organizations represent those who make up all aspects of general aviation. We are writing to ask you to support legislation important to the nation's air transportation system—the National Aviation Capacity Expansion Act (S.2039) introduced by Senator Richard Durbin on March 20, 2002.
Senator Durbin's bill, and Representative William Lipinski's bill in the House of Representatives (H.R.3479), would codify the historical political agreement reached by Illinois Governor George Ryan and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley that will preserve Chicago's flagship general aviation airport Meigs Field for another 25 years, expand O'Hare International, and expedite the creation of a new airport at Peotone. The General Aviation Coalition strongly supports this agreement, focusing on its importance to preserving Meigs Field. We believe it is vital that the Governor and Mayor's agreement be embodied in federal legislation and have pledged our support to Senator Durbin and Representative Lipinski and continue to work to ensure passage of the National Aviation Capacity Expansion Act.
Meigs Field, a historic landmark on the shores of Lake Michigan, is an important air transportation access point to Chicago's business and government districts. The use of Meigs saves over an hour in travel to and from the next closest airport to the Loop—closing it has been compared to eliminating a perfectly good off-ramp from the interstate highway system. The 14 general aviation airports in the area, including Meigs Field, are part of the solution to airspace congestion not only in Chicago, but also for the entire national airspace system.
Chicago area airport capacity is not just an Illinois issue—airport delays in the Chicago area affect air transportation virtually everywhere in the United States and also have an impact on international flights. Chicago is a key transportation center, both as an originator of traffic and a connecting point for flights. There are national benefits to meeting capacity needs by keeping Meigs Field open, expanding O'Hare, and building a new airport at Peotone.
If you would like to cosponsor S.2039, please contact Patrick Souders in Senator Durbin's office at (202) 224-2152.
We urge you to support S.2039. The decision to address the Mayor and Governor's agreement legislatively reflects the importance of Chicago's airports in the National Aviation System.
Sincerely,
| Paula R. Derks, President Aircraft Electronics Association
| Phil Boyer, President Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association |
| Tom Poberezny, President Experimental Aircraft Association
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Edward M. Bolen, President General Aviation Manufacturers Association
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| Roy Resavage, President Helicopter Association International
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James Coyne, President National Air Transportation Association
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| Donald J. Koranda, President National Aeronautic Association | John W. Olcott, President National Business Aviation Association
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| Brian Finnegan, President Professional Aviation Maintenance Association | Paul C. Fiduccia, President Small Aircraft Manufacturers Association |
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Chris Needels, Executive Director U.S. Parachute Association |
Carolyn Williamson, Executive Director University Aviation Association |
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