New legislation could free up money for Oklahoma airports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Federal funding to Oklahoma's airports could triple under legislation being pushed in Washington. U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts and state Transportation Secretary Neal McCaleb joined

Tuesday, January 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Federal funding to Oklahoma's airports could triple under legislation being pushed in Washington. U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts and state Transportation Secretary Neal McCaleb joined several other officials in a news conference Monday announcing AIR 21, which stands for Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st century. "We've been in a holding pattern about the past year, and will be until we get AIR 21 passed out of conference and on the president's desk," Watts, R-Okla., said.

If passed, AIR 21 would mean $8.6 million in funding for Oklahoma airports in the next fiscal year. Most of the projects range from reconstructing a runway in El Reno to improving drainage in airports in Guthrie and Poteau. But William D. Miller II, director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics and Space Commission, said the state is in a good position to use its large number of airports for economic advancement. The state's 123 public airports makes the state fourth in the number of airports and first in the number of airports per capita.

One goal of the state is to have a jet-capable airport -- or an airport with a runway at least 5,000 feet long -- within a 25-minute drive of 97 percent of the state's population. Fifteen of the 49 potential jet-capable airports need longer runways, and lengthening 10 of the 15 could be paid within the next year or so if AIR 21 became law. AIR 21 would greatly aid business travel throughout the state, thereby helping businesses take root and thrive across the state, officials said.

The problem is not lack of federal funding per se, said Miller. The Airport Trust Fund -- and account built up with various airport taxes -- theoretically has $12 billion in it, said Miller. However, it is "on budget," which means it is like the Social Security Trust Fund: The money has been spent by Congress for other purposes. AIR 21 would basically stop that practice and earmark the money for airports nationwide, he said. "We think this is the most important piece of unfinished business (in Congress)," Miller said.