Sam Addoms said that state authority over airlines was removed with deregulation and that a monopoly is now making decisions about commuter service in the state. He said that United Airlines has access to travel agency information which is used to draw passengers to their airline. He said that communications outlets at the airports are not always functional and that radar systems do not reach high enough. He suggested the placement of weather reporting instruments in the mountains. He noted that general aviation uses the same airspace as the commuters and that state resources should be used to improve radio facilities, radar, and weather reporting.
General aviation includes medical transport services.
He said that the accident rate in Colorado is higher than it should be for general aviation aircraft. Travis Vallin, Colorado Director of Aeronautics, commented on revenue sources in the state for airport improvements. These include a six cents tax on aviation fuel, a four cents tax on non-commercial jet fuel, and a three percent tax on all jet fuel. Twenty-five percent of the funds are discretionary and are distributed by the Colorado Aeronautical Board. Mr. Vallin noted that the Air Service Study conducted in 1996 identified certain projects with particular importance to the state.