EPA Clears March Global Port and Terminated Debarment
Earlier this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency terminated the debarment of March International Logistics Center and Global Port Fueling Services prohibiting the companies from doing business with the federal government.
March Field emerging as business hub for the county
For western Riverside County, the economic future more than ever appears destined to revolve around a 2-foot-thick slab of concrete that extends for 13,300 feet. That's the main runway at March Air Reserve Base.
May 22, 2009- March Global Port Unveils New Master Plan
March Global Port’s new management team on Tuesday, May 20, presented an updated airport master plan to the Commissioners and Staff of the March Joint Powers Authority (JPA). During the meeting, the new management team had the opportunity to answer questions from Commissioners and Staff, as well as provide an update of the March Global Port’s progress.
New caucus educates lawmakers on GA issues
By Tom Norton · May 5, 2009
A new congressional caucus to help ensure the future of general aviation, founded and co-chaired by Reps. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), is picking up steam as members of Congress in key aviation-related committees add their names to the ranks of those supporting GA, according to a May 4 news release from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
The General Aviation Caucus, formed to educate lawmakers about the importance of GA to our economy and transportation system, has 31 members so far, including House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.), AOPA reported.
“When people understand the true value of general aviation, they want to protect it and help it grow,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. “This caucus will help draw attention to the issues affecting GA while giving lawmakers the opportunity to learn more about how GA benefits their constituents.”
Boyd and Ehlers said their efforts to help their fellow members of Congress to understand all of the benefits GA provides will be strengthened by AOPA’s GA Serves America campaign as they strive to protect the industry in the face of challenges.
“As a pilot, I have seen firsthand the critical role that general aviation plays in creating jobs and bolstering the local economy in rural communities across America,” said Boyd. “This campaign is an important tool for raising public awareness of general aviation, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to keep general aviation strong.” AOPA worked with Ehlers and Boyd, who are AOPA members, and with other GA groups to establish the caucus. As legislative and regulatory challenges to GA mount, the caucus and GA Serves America Campaign will be valuable tools for educating policymakers and the public about the value of GA, AOPA stated.
“General aviation is an important part of our nation’s transportation system and economy,” Ehlers said. “This new caucus will highlight general aviation issues on the Hill, and I hope it will help my colleagues to recognize the great value of general aviation in each of their districts.”
In a letter inviting members of Congress to join the caucus, Boyd and Ehlers pointed out that GA contributes more than $150 billion to the U.S. economy each year and employs nearly 1.3 million workers. GA manufacturing exports make GA one of the few remaining U.S. industries with a positive foreign trade balance, they stated.
“There are more than 230,000 GA aircraft in the United States, which service nearly 19,000 small and regional airports, many more than the 500 commercial airports in the United States,” they wrote. “These airports help connect people and industries that do not always have easy access to our commercial airports. In fact, more than 100 communities have lost commercial airline service this year, leaving GA as their only alternative.”
Mayors tell Obama of GA benefits to towns, economy
By Tom Norton · May 5, 2009
On May 6, mayors and county executives from across the country will release an open letter to President Barack H. Obama explaining to him the crucial importance that general aviation provides to small towns and local economies.
Nearly 70 civic officials have signed the letter. Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer also renewed his invitation to the President to visit Wichita and see the toll that the economic downturn has taken there in terms of massive lay-offs, and the ripple effect that the downturn has had on Wichita and the more than 5,000 communities around the country which depend on general aviation, many with little or no commercial air service.