AOPA pitches GA in Indiana

More than a dozen state legislators attended the 2023 legislative statehouse day for Aviation Indiana, including Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. AOPA was also in attendance, representing pilots and aircraft owners and communicating the importance of general aviation airports.

“These community airports in Indiana are vital to the economic stability and sustainability of aviation in Indiana. Aviation Indiana is a wonderful example of how a state association can promote and protect general aviation airports,” said AOPA Great Lakes Regional Manager Kyle Lewis.

Aviation Manager for the Indiana DOT Marty Blake stressed that the voices of GA airports are imperative when it comes to funding decisions. The FAA Airport Improvement Program was a topic of discussion, with Blake forecasting over $1.5 billion in eligible AIP projects across the state, including pavement rehabilitation, ramp and taxiway construction, obstruction removal, property acquisition, and lighting projects.

AOPA and Aviation Indiana are also monitoring multiple bills that are currently under consideration in the state legislature. The first is the state budget, which in H.B.1001 originally allocated $25 million toward aviation-specific funding for Indiana airports. After that language was removed, attention has been turned toward the Senate version of the bill, which is currently awaiting a revenue forecast.

Another piece of Indiana state legislation that might impact airports in the state is H.B.1069, which would void an administrative rule requiring a 50-percent local match on certain projects funded by the state. The new proposal would drop the local match to 25 percent, which would benefit small airports that struggle with local funding for matching grants from the state development fund.

AOPA will continue to monitor legislation progress in Indiana while also supporting organizations like Aviation Indiana that help protect and preserve GA.