Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 17
04/14/2005 01:30 PM House TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB199 | |
| HB209 | |
| HB239 | |
| HB266 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| = | HB 266 | ||
| = | HB 199 | ||
| = | HB 209 | ||
| = | HB 239 | ||
HB 209-AVIATION ADVISORY BOARD CO-CHAIR ELKINS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 209 "An Act establishing the Aviation Advisory Board; and providing for an effective date." NONA WILSON, Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, said HB 209 is critical to Alaska's aviation infrastructure and aviation industry. The board was originally created in 2003 by Governor Murkowski with an administrative order, and it was renewed in 2004. This bill would continue the existence of the board without the need for administrative renewals. 1:49:19 PM MS. WILSON said Anchorage and Fairbanks are international hubs, and there are 258 rural airports in Alaska. The state has the largest seaplane base in the world, six times the number of pilots per capita, and 16 times the number of aircraft per capita than the rest of the country. The Anchorage airport is the largest cargo airport in North America. The Aviation Advisory Board advises the commissioner and facilitates dialogue between the state and the aviation industry on matters of policy, management, operations, and safety. The board represents a broad cross-section of Alaska's aviation industry with a valuable combination of expertise, she concluded. 1:50:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE SALMON asked about the purpose of the board. MS. WILSON repeated her description of the board's purpose. 1:51:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE SALMON asked if it makes aviation regulations. MS. WILSON said the board would advise the commissioner on regulations. She said the board is the administration's attempt at fair and balanced representation of everybody who participates in statewide aviation. KIP KNUDSON, Deputy Commissioner of Aviation, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, said the advisory board is critical, and the department has already gotten a lot of sage advice from it. It should be a permanent structure, he said. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked if it already exists. MS. WILSON said it does, and HB 209 makes it permanent. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked who represents air carriers serving rural areas. MR. KNUDSON said it was someone from Taquan Air in Ketchikan, Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN said most boards come up for review, and asked why there wasn't a sunset date for this board. MS. WILSON said the department would like to see the board continued, even as members and administrations change. 1:55:51 PM MR. KNUDSON added that the board was recommended by aviation interests who didn't have adequate avenues to advise the state. It is coming from the consumers, companies, and pilots, he said. REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN said he thought there were always sunset clauses because things change, and the public likes to take another look at government decisions. REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked about term lengths. MS. WILSON said she thought they were staggered three-year terms, with eleven members. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS said he likes the idea of it being permanent, as many boards are. 1:58:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE SALMON asked about the member from an unorganized borough. MR. KNUDSON said that seat is occupied by someone from Bettles Air Service. The intent is to make sure unorganized areas were covered on the board, he explained. REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN said he does not have a problem with permanence. 2:00:15 PM TOM GEORGE, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Fairbanks, said AOPA has 4,600 members in Alaska, and it supports HB 209. He said aviation plays a crucial role in Alaska, and there needs to be a way for the industry to dialogue with the department as it sets policy and makes management decisions. The board members represent broad interests and geographic regions, he stated. 2:01:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER moved to report HB 209 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 209 was passed out of the House Transportation Standing Committee. 2:02:06 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|