# General Aviation Airport Access Act

This bill makes it easier for small aircraft owners and pilots to use public airports across the country. Right now, many airports require visiting pilots to pay fees or use specific services even if they just want to park their plane temporarily. This bill changes that by requiring certain airports to provide free parking space for transient aircraft—planes that are just passing through and don't need fuel, maintenance, or other services.

The bill applies to airports that have received federal funding or property from the government in the past 20 years, which covers most public airports in the United States. These airports must now set aside parking areas on their aprons (the paved areas where planes park) for visiting aircraft. If an airport does charge a parking fee for using this space, the fee must be fair, reasonable, and clearly posted online with no hidden costs. This prevents airports from surprising pilots with unexpected charges.

For airports with security checkpoints, the bill also protects pilot access. If an airport has controlled entry (like those required to have security programs), pilots and their passengers can't be charged extra fees just to walk between their parked plane and the airport exit. This removes a barrier that currently prevents some small aircraft owners from using certain airports—they won't have to pay additional access fees on top of parking costs.

Essentially, this bill opens up airport access for general aviation, which includes small planes, private aircraft, and business jets. It's designed to support the general aviation community by reducing barriers and hidden costs that currently discourage pilots from using public airports.

General Aviation Airport Access Act

Obernolte, Jay

General Aviation Airport Access Act This bill requires public use airports that have received certain federal grants or property conveyances to provide transient general aviation aircraft parking on or near the existing apron in specific circumstances. A transient general aviation aircraft is an aircraft that is not owned or operated by an air carrier and is seeking to park temporarily at an airport. Specifically, transient general aviation aircraft parking must be provided on or near the existing apron when a pilot or owner of the aircraft does not need or request fuel or use other related services from the airport or a fixed-base operator at the airport. A fixed-base operator is a business that is operating on an airport or heliport and provides aeronautical services, such as fueling, rentals, and parking. A public use airport may assess a fee on a transient general aviation aircraft for using the transient apron; the fee must be fair, reasonable, transparent, and publicly available. It must also exclude any extraneous or hidden costs. A controlled access airport or a fixed-base operator at the airport may not charge a fee for a pilot or passenger to transit between their transient general aviation aircraft parked on the transient apron and a place outside the airport's perimeter fence, whether or not the individual must pass through a building.