"Without prompt action, the United States' aviation system is headed toward gridlock shortly after the turn of the century. If this gridlock is allowed to happen, it will result in a deterioration of aviation safety, harm the efficiency and growth of our domestic economy, and hurt our position in the global marketplace. Lives may be endangered; the profitability and strength of the aviation sector could disappear; and jobs and business opportunities far beyond aviation could be foregone."

----- The National Civil Aviation Review Commission, Report to Congress, December 1997

The United States of America was facing the daunting task on how to address the issues facing our National Aviation System. The US Government passed The Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21) on April 5th, 2000. AIR 21 was intended to help address a lot of the issues facing out national aviation system by having measures to insure Safety in both our airports and skies, measures to help increase competition into the airline industry, and by having measure that ensure that money spen

Q Authorizes over $59.3 billion, an increase of $14.3 billion.

Q Doubled the funding for cargo airports.

Q Maintained the general fund contribution at $3.4 billion.

AIR 21 reformed the management of the FAA's air traffic control system by creating an oversight board. It strengthened the provisions of the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act that was created following the Valujet and TWA 800 crashes. Explicitly prohibited racial discrimination in air travel for the first time. It also allowed pilots to appeal an emergency revocation of their license to the safety board. AIR 21 ensured that the taxes pilots and passengers pay would actually be used to fund the safety, security and infrastructure they needed for a safe and expeditious journey.

AIR 21 tripled the amount of the minimum entitlement for non-hub airports from $500 thousand to $1.5 million per year. For the first time, AIR 21 provided entitlement money for general aviation airports (this is based on their needs as set forth in FAA's national plan of integrated airport systems (NPIAS) to a maximum of $200 thousand per year). It tripled the small airport fund and authorized a contract tower cost sharing program so that small airports can get the benefits of air traffic control services. AIR 21 created a loan guarantee program to help airlines buy regional jets if they agreed to use them to serve small airports. It provided a new venue for smaller airlines and communities to benefit. It also created a new funding program to help small under-served airports to market and promote their air service. This gave life to struggling airports across the nation.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1349
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)