Tennessee Aviation Association tells committee $77M repair gap warrants raising recurring airport funding to $50M

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Aviation Association urged the House Transportation Committee on March 3 to increase the state’s recurring general aviation funding to $50 million annually to address what the association said is a roughly $77 million state funding gap for state‑of‑good‑repair airport projects.

Dean Selby, vice president of the Tennessee Aviation Association and executive director of the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport, described general aviation airports as vital economic connectors for rural communities, medical transport and disaster response. "General aviation airports play a vital role and access medical transport, fire support, police operation, and connect rural communities to response and support services," Selby told the committee.

Chad Gerke, the association’s secretary and Murfreesboro Municipal Airport director, presented the association’s fiscal case. He said the Tennessee Aeronautics Division identified a $77,000,000 gap to address pavement, approach clearing and security fencing projects for state‑of‑good‑repair work; he said increasing the recurring budget line for general aviation from $23,000,000 to $50,000,000 would help address the shortfall and better match current construction costs.

Gerke cited the 2019 Tennessee Airport Economic Impact Study, which the presenters said showed $40,000,000,000 in annual economic output from commercial air carriers statewide and roughly $1,000,000,000 in value from 71 general aviation airports. He said a new economic impact study is expected this fall.

Members asked how pending statewide governance legislation might affect local airport authorities. Representative Behn flagged a bill moving through the Legislature that would restructure metropolitan and regional airport boards and expand state appointment power; association representatives said most general aviation airports are locally governed and that they would review the pending measure before taking a stance.

Several members discussed workforce and training needs. Committee members and presenters described partnerships with Motlow State, TCAT and local school programs to build pilot, mechanic and air‑traffic control pipelines.

On the committee’s calendar, the session also moved House Bill 23‑56 (a school bus camera access bill) to calendar and rules after a unanimous 19–0 roll call. The aviation association’s funding request drew extended member interest but no committee appropriation vote during the March 3 meeting.

What happens next: Association representatives said they will continue discussions with committee staff and legislators as budget deliberations proceed; members indicated willingness to consider recurring funding adjustments in the fiscal process.