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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 26, 2021 04:46 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Deregulating Small Airport Hangar Construction |
| Small airport hangars should be treated differently than large commercial airport hangars. Therefore, in the near future, I intend to introduce legislation to deregulate the construction of small hangars thereby reducing unnecessary costs and helping rural airports across this Commonwealth. On September 13, 2018, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission approved the adoption of the 2015 International Building Code as Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code, which imposes new standards on airport hangar development. The new regulations failed to recognize the significant difference between small aircraft hangars and large commercial aircraft hangars. Increased regulatory costs for new airport hangars stagnate the business growth of our aviation industry. A fire suppression system alone could add up to $1 million, which could be repurposed for other airport development. This initiative is currently being explored by the Governor’s Aviation Advisory Committee, which conducted a recent survey on small airport hangars in Pennsylvania. The average airport hangar is more than 30 years old, and 35 percent of the T-hangars are in poor condition. Further, 90 percent of airports have developable land for hangars, 51 percent of airports are planning for new hangars in the next 5 years and 79 percent of respondents believe the lack of funding is a primary barrier to airport hangar development. This initiative is also a priority for the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania. The demand for airport hangars is very strong throughout rural Pennsylvania, with airport hangars generating 43 percent of the airport’s revenue. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation that will ensure small airports are economic engines for the communities they serve throughout rural Pennsylvania. If you have any questions, please contact Nolan Ritchie of my staff at nritchie@pasen.gov. |