In your July 22 column, “To Save Our Airports,” you imply that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports increased funding for airport infrastructure only where there is national or regional airline service. In fact, the chamber supports funding for a modernized infrastructure capable of handling greater volumes of ALL types of aviation — general aviation included. Addressing the growing aviation capacity crisis is a key competitive challenge for all businesses. As part of that effort, we are working to ensure that Congress fully reauthorizes AIR-21 legislation before it expires in 2007 and that trust fund dollars are used for their intended purpose of infrastructure improvements — not for operations, salaries or other needs.
The U.S. Chamber is building a coalition in support of these goals. The modern, well-funded system we are advocating is critical to our nation’s economy and will benefit all forms of aviation, from commercial to cargo to general.
Carol Hallett
Counsel National Chamber Foundation
Editor’s Note: We welcome this positive response to our program asking readers to use resources such as Chambers of Commerce to make their neighbors more aware of aviation’s community benefits, and to press governments at all levels to support existing airports and promote more airports.