TABLE 4.-Distribution of FAAP projects (grant agreements) continental United States only, grouped by amount of Federal funds, fiscal years 1947 through 1953 CITY OF DAYTON, OHIO, Hon. JOHN W. BRICKER, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR BRICKER: Your assistance is respectfully requested in the program for development of the national airport system by favorable action toward the Federal airport-aid legislation now in committee discussion with Hon. Robert B. Murray, Jr., Under Secretary for Transportation. The officials of the city of Dayton strongly favor the continuance of such financial participation by the Federal Government and believe their stand is warranted for several reasons. One of these reasons stems from the fact that patronage and facility usage in this and many other communities is not obtained from local inhabitants. At the Dayton Airport patronage is developed from a metropolitan area within a 35-mile radius of the airport, or the population of 10 counties. In view of this situation it should not be required that the city of Dayton taxpayers be saddled with the entire burden of providing, at their expense, additions and modernization projects demanded of them by ever-changing aircraft equipment developed by manufacturers and approved by CAB for the benefit of the traveling public, many of whom do not even get off the airplane at this airport. And, as you know, operating municipal airports has not proven to be a profitable venture. The demands being made for longer and heavier paved runways, special lighting, etc., are a direct result of placing in operation for commercial use, prototype military equipment; and well it might, as each and every aircraft used in civilian transportation can be converted to the military in the event of an emergency. This also applies to every airport of express class, or larger. The continuing growth of air transportation, which is evidenced by a review of the forecasts made by CAA for 1960, which forecast was made in 1949 and surpassed in 1952, imposes demands upon airport operators which only a satisfactory and adequate Federal-aid program can offset. Although statements have been made that it is the local community which has the most to gain or lose from the adequacy of its own airport, there are innumerable factors which must be considered in providing satisfactory airport facilities for the safety of the traveling public, air travel having ceased to be a luxury or a hobby. DEAR SENATOR WILEY: I understand that Senator Bricker's bill, S. 3410, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Under this bill three changes would be made in the Federal Airport Act: 1. Federal aid for the construction, alteration, or repair of airport terminal buildings would be prohibited. 2. The discretionary fund which the Secretary of Commerce can spend where he chooses would be increased from 25 percent of the total appropriation to 50 percent. (This would have the effect of reducing the usual State by State allotment by 25 percent.) 3. A new clause would be added to the Federal Airport Act providing that projects shall be approved for Federal aid only if they are of "sufficient national importance to warrant financial participation by the United States." The present thinking of the Department of Commerce would restrict Federal aid to those airports which have 3,000 airline passenger flights per year or have a minimum of 30 aircraft based on the field. I am sure that you can see that this bill would be of little value to any place in Wisconsin except perhaps Milwaukee and Madison. In addition to that, by raising the discretionary fund of the Secretary of Commerce from 25 percent to 50 percent would, of course, give the State 25 percent less money. I hope that you see fit to vote against this. L. O. SIMENSTAD, M. D., Village President. PUEBLO, COLO., May 25, 1954. Senators ED. C. JOHNSON and EUGENE D. MILLIKIN, It is the utmost importance that we kill the administrators of the Civil Aeronautics Administration 50-percent discretionary fund. This would put all small airports out of the picture. You know only too well what this would mean to Colorado. J. C. KEELER, Director of Aviation. PUEBLO, COLO., May 25, 1954. Hon. EDWIN C. JOHNSON and Senate Office Building: It is essential to the growth of Colorado airports to eliminate the CAA Administrator's 50-percent discretionary fund. If this is not done, only one airport in Colorado can make much advancement. MILT ANDRUS, Manager, Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. Hon. JOHN W. BRICKER, CITY OF SYRACUSE, June 4, 1954. United States Senate, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR BRICKER: In reviewing the minutes of the hearing held May 24 on Federal airport aid, I should like to go on record as mayor of the city of Syracuse, that the original Airport Act as set up, be in no way altered as to its provisions. The city of Syracuse, among many other cities, participated in Federal-aid grants which permitted the city of Syracuse to take over the former Army airbase; reactivate it, construct terminal buildings, aprons, taxiways, control tower, runway and taxiway lighting systems, and to provide facilities for Federal agencies. At the present time, the command post of the 32d Air Force Defense is located at Hancock Field. In addition, headquarters of the 107th Fighter Group and 138th Fighter Squadron of the New York Air National Guard are also based on this field. If it were not for grants obtained from the Federal Government, the city of Syracuse would have been unable to make the necessary improvements which have permitted the various services to use the field. Terminal buildings are a necessity and usually house the operating departinent of airport. I do believe a proper screening of airports should be made before Federal aid is granted. I believe you will find that in some cases, airport funds were used on bases that had no particular future, commercially or militarily. Very truly yours, DONALD H. MEAD, Mayor. UNITED STATES SENATE, June 7, 1954. Mr. JOSEPH K. MCLAUGHLIN, Director, Department of Aeronautics, State of Illinois, Capital Airport, Springfield, Ill. DEAR MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Thank you for your letter of June 1, 1954, enclosing a copy of a telegram you sent to Hon. Robert B. Murray, Jr., Under Secre |