Aviation has been a driving force in Hawaii since Territorial days. It helped establish Hawaii as a territory and a state, a tourist destination and an economic force that brings in approximately 17.9 percent of the GDP and has a 21.9 percent share of the job market in the state. Most people see only the air carrier operation (Hawaiian, United, Delta, American, Aloha Cargo, Island Air, etc.) when they board a flight or send a package to the outer islands, mainland or international destinations. But there is more.
Most people do not see general aviation (GA). GA is a part of aviation that does air tours, provides passenger and cargo access to smaller Hawaii airports through On Demand Air Taxi operators, flies patients to hospitals in air ambulances, supports the local film industry, performs search and rescue. GA is also private pilots, who do humanitarian airlift for Angel Flight, Pilot and Paws, etc., when not doing recreational flights. The teaching of people how to fly or maintain aircraft is also a big part of GA.
GA is the roots of a larger aviation tree that brings over $260 million and 4,100 jobs to Hawaii — but is currently in peril from Hawaii Department of Transportation, Airports Division (DOTA).
For the past several years, GA has been subject to predatory actions by DOTA. Simple violations such as incorrectly parking an aircraft or having non-aeronautical items in a hangar (a cart to move aircraft or a bicycle to ride to the bathroom) have resulted in criminal citations being issued to pilots and aircraft owners. A criminal citation to a pilot is a career-ending or -limiting event.
The General Aviation Council of Hawaii (GACH) had supported bills in past legislative sessions to change the criminalization of minor infractions but the bills were rebuffed by DOTA.
Airport security access badges are normally authorized for two years, but are issued to GA users for only a year. Electrical charges for T Hangars are flat-rated by DOTA since it was easier for it to charge a one-rate-fits-all system; GACH recommended electric sub-metering but DOTA rejected the proposal.
DOTA facilities leased to GA aircraft owners and aviation businesses are on a 30-day revocable permit, which makes it difficult for businesses to improve their areas or to get a bank loan. It is also practically impossible for a private individual wanting to lease land at an airport to erect a hangar. No written guidance exists, and leases presented are written for a commercial operation.
The Hawaii administrative rules that govern DOTA operations are outdated; DOTA has not made a concerted effort to update the rules in 20 years. The final coup de grace was DOTA’s recent announcement that GA rent for facility use will increase approximately 44 percent for hangars at Honolulu Airport and 225 percent for aircraft tie-downs at Kalaeloa Airport. There was no consultation with users, as required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Aircraft owners do not have a choice since all airports in Hawaii (except one) are managed by DOTA and aircraft must be parked at an airport (unlike cars or boats that can be parked on private property). DOTA has a monopoly.
We need legislation to break this monopoly and restore proper management to our airports by providing an oversight authority, not under DOT. We also need the support of legislators and Hawaii’s people to join the GA community in stopping this unreasonable facility increase.
Without GA in Hawaii, the only future source for pilots and mechanics here will be from the mainland or foreign countries. And if we do not get pilots from those sources, air travel in Hawaii will be limited and/or very expensive.
Rob Moore is president of the General Aviation Council of Hawaii (GACH).
