The Rural Air Service Alliance (RASA) was formed in response to continued attacks on small town transportation and provides a unified, grassroots voice on the issues of air service for rural communities. Small and rural communities rely on access to air service to recruit new industry, connect with their government, attract visitors, provide vital medical facility access, and to maintain economic growth and a high quality of life. We believe that transportation to small and rural communities is not only important for those communities, but is a key component of the future economic development of this country as a whole. Read more about what we do by visiting the “About RASA” page.
Keep up with the latest news here.
Please contact us here with any questions or for membership inquiries.
What’s New
Sequestration - the automatic spending cuts set to take effect January 2, 2013 – if implemented, is expected to reduce the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) annual budget by approximately $1 billion for nine years. The exact results of this reduction are unclear, but recent reports point to detrimental economic impacts across the FAA, civil aviation industry, and national economy as a whole. Read more here.
The House passed a transportation and housing spending bill that would boost funding by 11 percent for a government program that subsidizes air travel to rural areas, an initiative long criticized by budget watchdogs as rife with waste. Read more here.
The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to fully fund the Essential Air Service (EAS) program at $214 million per year, the same amount requested in the President’s budget, as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. Read more here.
EAS Funding Attack Rejected. Read more here.
House Approps Passes FY13 THUD Bill. Read more here.
EAS funding in House Appropriations. Read more here.
Government Pays for Empty Flights to Rural Airports. Read more here.
Mica – Reply to FAA shutdown: Demagogues and Democrats at Fault. Read more here.
New York Times Editorial – This is Called “Small Government”. Read more here.
Senator Rockefeller Calls on Chairman Mica to Convene Conference on FAA Bill. Read more here.
The bipartisan leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Aviation Subcommittee, and Ways and Means Committee introduced legislation to provide a short-term extension of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding and programs. Read more here.
Representatives Shuster, Thompson, Berg and Noem spoke in support of the Essential Air Service Program during general debate on FAA reauthorization on March 31, 2011. Watch their colloquy here.
The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency joins RASA along with Bradford Regional Airport, Dubois Regional Airpot and Venango Regional Airport. For a complete membership list, click here.
