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Senate committee confirms aeronautics board nominees and discusses airport grants, beacons and ADS‑B concerns
Summary
The committee approved aeronautics board appointees and heard extensive testimony on airport grants, West Yellowstone terminal work and pilot concerns about fixed‑base operator fees, fuel 'tankering' and the commercial use of ADS‑B tracking for billing.
The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee reopened and completed its hearing on Senate Resolution 87 to consider nominees to the Montana Aeronautics Board and to hear testimony about airport financing and operations.
Chris Dorrington (Department of Transportation) and Tim Conway (aeronautics administrator) described the board’s role in managing loan and grant programs that fund airport projects including lighting, runway overlays, taxiway overlays and security. Conway said the legislature’s earlier actions to increase state match and fuel‑fee adjustments have increased the amount the department can leverage alongside federal funds; the committee heard that the West Yellowstone terminal has a grand opening scheduled for June 4 and runway reconstruction is planned for 2029–30.
Pilots and airport representatives raised concerns about changes in fixed‑base operator ownership and fees at some airports, explained how aircraft fuel taxation and 'tankering' interact with revenue, and warned that out‑of‑state commercial operators are increasingly buying FBOs and implementing landing and convenience fees that can affect small pilots. Several witnesses also expressed concern about ADS‑B tracking being used by private companies to bill pilots rather than being restricted to safety uses; legislators discussed proposals to limit such commercial uses.
The committee moved and approved SR 87 by voice vote with proxies recorded.
Next steps: confirmations proceed following committee approval; staff follow‑up on details of grants, airport fee structures and ADS‑B bills may be needed.
