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Minnesota Aviation Industry NewsMinnesota Business Aviation Association…In The Trenches For Businesses That Own or Operate AircraftMINNEAPOLIS – Anybusiness that owns oroperates an aircraft inMinnesota will be gladto know that there isan association workinghard on their behalf.That organization is theMinnesota Business AviationAssociation (MBAA), whichis modeled after the NationalBusiness Aviation Association(NBAA). Among MBAA’s600-plus members areseveral Fortune 500 companies, but small and medium-sizecompanies make up the core of the organization.The list of inroads and accomplishments of MBAA aremany.In 2007, MBAA was an active member of the St. PaulChamber of Commerce working with the St. Paul CityCouncil and Mayor Coleman to secure approval to build thedike for St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP).In 2008, MBAA worked with the flight departmentsof Marvin Windows and Doors, and The Schwan’s FoodsCompany, to reduce a proposed landing fee at MSP by 24percent.In 2009, MBAA successfully added amendments to HouseFile 1309, obligating the repayment of the $15 million tothe State Airports Trust Fund, which was transferred tothe General Fund in May of 2009 by the Governor andMinnesota Legislature. The airport fund is fifth in line tobe repaid. While there is no set date, the legislature andthe governor will have to act on this issue in the future,thanks in large part to MBAA, the Minnesota AviationTrades Association, and elected officials who support airtransportation in Minnesota.MBAA has established that if the airport appropriationfor either year of the biennium is not expended, theCommissioner of Finance, upon request of the Commissionerof Transportation, shall notify the chairs and rankingmembers of the House and Senate TransportationCommittees of the amount, which shall then be added to theairport appropriation.MBAA supports the Minnesota Office of Aeronautics inits use of the State Airports Trust Fund for the 5 percent localmatch for an airport not classified as a “key system” airport,which are airports that receive non-stimulus federal funds.MBAA successfully added two aviation projects to the2009 Capital InvestmentBill: $1.7 million tolengthen and re-constructthe runway at BigforkAirport; and $2.0 million topurchase and install radarequipment to close the gapin central Minnesota. Thistotal amount of $3.7 millionwill be counted towardrepayment of the $15million transferred from theKey Air Twin Cities, Anoka County-Blaine Airport, Blaine, MinnesotaState Airports Fund to theGeneral Fund.The radar gap in central Minnesota is proving to be achallenge. The FAA is not supporting any expansion of WideArea Multilateration facilities at this time. The future of the$2 million that was bonded for this project is still available,but as of today, there is no definitive plan to close the gap.In 2010, MBAA succeeded in including $1.7 millionin the 2010 bonding bill for a hangar at Thief River Falls,Minnesota, and helped to secure $11.7 million for theterminal at Duluth International Airport.MBAA has worked with the MnDOT Office ofAeronautics and Delta Airlines to ensure that the Air FlightProperty Tax is applied according to Minnesota Statute270.075, and in changing the collection of this tax fromJanuary to March, which better aligns with the Minnesotaconstruction season.MBAA continues to monitor the landing fees atMinneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP); itis actively supporting the construction of a Wide AreaMultilateration site near Alexandria; and it is an activemember of the Minnesota Chamber of CommerceTransportation Committee, Aeronautics Statewide System24 Hour Self-Serve Fuel Accepting Visa & MastercardHangar Space AvailableLow FuelPricesLat: 46 o 01.4’Long: 92 o 53.7’ID: 04WCTAF: 122.9Rwy 06/24: 2754’Free CasinoShuttle320-384-6667fieldofdreamsairport.comOCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE 47