0
General Aviation Airport Access Act
3/11/2024, 5:36 PM
Summary of Bill S 1847
The main purpose of the bill is to ensure that general aviation airports remain accessible to all pilots, regardless of their level of experience or the type of aircraft they fly. This includes protecting the rights of pilots to use these airports for training, recreational flying, and other purposes.
One key provision of the bill is the requirement for general aviation airports to provide reasonable access to all pilots, without discrimination based on factors such as the type of aircraft they fly or their level of experience. This is intended to prevent certain airports from imposing overly restrictive policies that could limit access for certain pilots. Additionally, the bill includes provisions aimed at promoting safety at general aviation airports, such as requiring airports to implement safety measures and procedures to prevent accidents and ensure the smooth operation of air traffic. Overall, the General Aviation Airport Access Act seeks to protect the rights of pilots to access general aviation airports while also promoting safety and efficiency in the operation of these facilities. It is currently being debated in Congress, with supporters arguing that it is necessary to ensure the continued viability of general aviation airports, while opponents raise concerns about potential conflicts with existing regulations and policies.
Congressional Summary of S 1847
General Aviation Airport Access Act
This bill requires public use airports that have received certain federal grants or property conveyances to provide transient general aviation aircraft parking on or near the existing apron in specific circumstances. A transient general aviation aircraft is an aircraft that is not owned or operated by an air carrier and is seeking to park temporarily at an airport.
Specifically, transient general aviation aircraft parking must be provided on or near the existing apron when a pilot or owner of the aircraft does not need or request fuel or use other related services from the airport or a fixed-base operator at the airport. A fixed-base operator is a business that is operating on an airport or heliport and provides aeronautical services, such as fueling, rentals, and parking.
A public use airport may assess a fee on a transient general aviation aircraft for using the transient apron; the fee must be fair, reasonable, transparent, and publicly available. It must also exclude any extraneous or hidden costs. A controlled access airport or a fixed-base operator at the airport may not charge a fee for a pilot or passenger to transit between their transient general aviation aircraft parked on the transient apron and a place outside the airport's perimeter fence, whether or not the individual must pass through a building.
