Wednesday, Feb 16 2011 12:01AM
Cutting the FAA's Essential Air Services would isolate some rural Nevada communities from big cities.
Nevada is hoping the U.S. Congress will reauthorize funding to the Federal Aviation Administration this session, reported the Las Vegas Sun, as that would also guarantee funding for a program that provides commercial airline service to rural areas of the state.
The Essential Air Services (EAS) program provides subsidies to airlines so they will run in rural communities that would usually be bypassed. In Nevada, the newspaper reported, the town of Ely's Yelland Field airport — which is only serviced by one airline — would face closure if the program is not reauthorized, isolating a section of the state.
While some lawmakers believe the program should be cut so the funding can be used for other initiatives, the paper said others, such as Nevada Senator Harry Reid, said the airport funding is needed to spur rural community development in economically depressed areas.
"Rural America's looking for economic development, and you can't do it without air service,” Reid said, according to the report, adding that airports also create jobs in outlying communities.
Alaskan lawmakers are also fighting for EAS, according to The Bristol Bay Times, as airline service is necessary to reach 44 rural Alaskan communities that are not connected to state roads.