23 Years of Partnership
Working together with you during 2005, we were able to boast a number of accomplishments which are set forth in our available on our . Among other things, we issued 183 grants totaling $198.5 M. As to what we can expect for 2007, none of us knows at this time: the President's budget, which proposes $2.75 B for AIP, is still being considered in both houses of Congress. We should know the outcome by Conference time in October.

And by then a very important related effort will have gotten under way: consideration by Congress of the Administration's proposal for re-authorization of the airport grant in aid program. That, in and of itself, wouldn't be so significant; after all we go through this every four or five years anyway. What's of particular interest this time is that the proposal will include what is likely to be a very different financing scheme. As you learned at last year's Conference, the Aviation Trust Fund, for a variety of reasons, just "ain't what it used to be," and the costs associated with making needed improvements to the air traffic control system are outstripping our ability to pay. The Administration's re-authorization proposal hadn't "matured" to the point of public release as I am writing this but it will probably have been announced - and debated in the press - by Conference time. So, if for no other reason, you'd better plan on being here to learn and debate this very important development.

Finally, I need to thank you in advance for your attendance. In large measure, the enthusiastic participation by important members of this region's airports community like yourselves is the reason our Conference has become so successful year after year. Of course, there are others to thank as well: our sponsors and exhibitors, the speakers and workshop chairs, our professional conference coordinator and the Airports Division Conference team.

Kansas City awaits you with its customary warm welcome!

George A. Hendon
Manager, Airports Division,
Central Region, FAA

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