b'70 INDUSTRY INSIDERWhy the Battle for Boulder Airportis So Significant for Our IndustryLeading the airport advocacywe must turn to the men and women portfolio at the National Businesswearing black robes sitting behind aAlex Gertsen, CAM, Aviation Association (NBAA)bench, leveraging the court system toC.M., ACE, headquarters in Washington, D.C., canadjudicate and enforce the laws when allis senior director of Airport Advocacy and feel a bit like being called upon to serveother avenues fail. Vertical Infrastructure as an aviation superhero. We frequentlyThese attacks are often centeredat NBAA. In addition to receive calls from pilots, aircraft operatorsaround circumstances unique to eachprotecting airport access and advocating and airport managers to help protect theirairport, stemming from local politics andon behalf of business aviation, his airport from villains looking to implementthe result of regional and geographicportfolio also includes runway and restrictions or to shutter the valuable aviationenvironments. However, most are notsurface safety, Advanced Air Mobility infrastructure forever. Our superpowersisolated to a particular airport and have(AAM) as well as aviation noise. With are rooted in the federal statutes suchmore than 25 years experience in the precedent-setting potential to harmthe aviation industry, he is an active as the Airport Noise and Capacity Act ofour entire federal system of airports.1990 (ANCA), the Surplus Property Act ofinstrument-rated commercial pilot who 1944 and the obligations (also known asThe lawsuit recently filed by the cityregularly relies on his Mooney for air assurances) that become applicable whenof Boulder against the FAA, seeking totransportation.airports accept federal funds.be released from perpetual obligations attributed to land acquisition, falls in thatof the day, all of us in the industry are The majority of these obligations lastnational precedent-setting category andsuperheroes. Its up to all of us to protect for 20 years; however there are someshould be of concern to all of us. It is thewhats at the core of our ability to take to that are perpetual, such as when federalkryptonite to one of our superpowersthe skiesaviation infrastructure. funds are used to purchase land. Thisto protect our infrastructure and is a is a barrier protecting Boulder Municipalreason many airports have not startedOur airports and heliports enable us Airport (BDU) in Colorado from closingon the path to run out their 20-yearto learn how to fly and to keep those even after 16 years that currently remainclock and are still operational today.perishable skills current; they connect on its grant obligation clock.Unfortunately, in todays politicallycommunities and serve as their economic In response to these calls for help, wecharged environmentwhere a handfulengines; they help save lives when usually can quickly don our capes andof households file the majority of noiseorgans are flown in, cancer patients are goggles and simply remind and educatecomplaints and a small vocal minoritytransported to treatment centers, or when those locally in charge about the rulesholds the cards to reelection for thosethey provide for the ability to bring in and regulations, federal preemption andgoverning over their airportthere are acritical supplies and to airlift those in need their limited ability to dictate how thenumber of communities closely watchingwhen natural disasters strike. All of us airport may operate; an airport may bethese embattled airports, standing at thehave the responsibility to learn from the named after a city or county, but is partready to adopt their tactics should thesebattles of the past, assist those fighting of a federal system of infrastructure. Atbeacons of hope fall. for survival today and to engage with times, we also rely on the FAA throughthe neighboring communities, educate While we at the aviation associationselected officials and to advocate to secure the Part 13 or Part 16 process, enlistinginside the beltway have our airportthe future of our airports and aviation the Agencys support to enforce theseadvocacy capes hanging on the back ofinfrastructure. obligations. Finally, there are times whenour office doors at the ready, at the end October 2024AirportImprovement.com'