The Air Service Assistance Program (ASAP) created by Senate Bill 566 is on schedule to be in place by the target date of November 15, 1999.
The program has been funded by the SHTD Road Fund, and the consultant to help the State and local communities set up the program has been hired. The public hearing on the rule-making was on October 1, 1999, and the SWD Commission will consider the issue in late October. The plan is for this state program to dovetail into the proposed U. S. Congress legislation known as AIR-21—which includes a 75/25% matching fund program for 40 small communities in the United States. The program will assist communities in obtaining air service to hub cities through out the Southwest.

FY 2000 has started off with a Budget Adjustment Request (BAR) approval for $450,000 from the road fund to be used to leverage over $11,000,000 in Airport Improvement Programs (AIP).
This BAR released a backlog of FY 1999 projects that have been building up due to a delay in our state funding process. The combination of these projects, the anticipated FAA funding levels for FY 2000, and the increase in the state AIP funds authorized by the state legislature should give us a good start toward accomplishing the goals of our Airport System Five Year Plan.

Congratulations to Wayne York, Chief, Safety and Education Bureau, Aviation Division.
Wayne was selected for the newly authorized Manager Five position in the Aviation Division. He will also pick up the additional duty of administrating the Air Service Assistance Program. We are currently advertising the Planner Three position that Wayne vacated. This position requires a licensed pilot to manage our airports and perform the FAA 5010 airport safety inspections.

The New Mexico Airport Managers Association and the New Mexico Municipal League should be commended for a successful Annual Meeting in Ruidoso last month.
Ted Morris, President of the Airport Managers, and Emily Gibson of the Municipal League deserve a lot of credit for developing a great conference that involved industry leaders, legislative leaders, FAA officials and state government officials. This is the type of activity that provides strength and solidarity for the aviation industry.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta starts October 2 and runs for nine days.
This is the biggest aviation event in New Mexico and one of the largest in the World. The Aviation Division will have a booth in the pilot's tent and will be available to visit with the pilots regarding flying in New Mexico. Many of these balloon pilots are also fixed wing pilots from the airlines, military, and general aviation We hope to see many of you on the balloon field.