SECTION 87 - U300 - DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS

87.1. (AERO: Reimbursement for Services Carry Forward) The Division of Aeronautics may retain and expend reimbursements derived from charges to other government agencies for service and supplies for operating purposes and that a reserve not to exceed $300,000 may be carried forward to the current fiscal year for the replacement of time limit aircraft components.

87.2. (AERO: Office Space Rental) Revenue received from rental of Division of Aeronautics office space may be retained and expended to cover the cost of building operations.

87.3. (AERO: Funding Sequence) All General Aviation Airports will receive funding prior to the four air carrier airports (i.e. Columbia, Charleston, Greenville-Spartanburg, Myrtle Beach Jetport) as these qualify for special funding under the DOT/FAA appropriations based on enplanements in South Carolina. This policy may be waived to provide matching state funds for critical FAA safety or capacity projects at air carrier airports.

87.4. (AERO: Hangar/Parking Facilities) The Division of Aeronautics will provide hangar/parking facilities for government owned and/or operated aircraft on a first come basis. Funds shall be retained by the division for the purpose of hangar and parking facility maintenance. The Hangar Fee Schedule shall be determined by the division and shall not exceed local average market rates.

Personnel from the agencies owning and/or operating aircraft will be responsible for ground movement of their aircraft.

87.5. (AERO: Aviation Grants) The funds appropriated for Aviation Grants, in this bill or any bill supplemental thereto, shall be credited to the State Aviation Fund within the Division of Aeronautics for the following purposes:

(1) to allow the maximization of grant funds available through the Federal Aviation Administration for capital improvement projects;

(2) for maintenance projects of general aviation airports; and or

(3) for aviation education related programs including, but not limited to, educating young people about careers in the aviation industry and/or the promotion of aviation in general.

Sponsors of publicly owned airports for public use are eligible to receive grants pursuant to this provision, but the airport must have a current development plan that meets the planning requirements of the National Plan of Integrated Airports Systems.

The Aeronautics Commission shall promulgate regulations establishing the grants program that, at a minimum, address: (1) priorities among improvements qualifying for grants; (2) an airport selection process to ensure an equitable distribution of funds among eligible airports; and (3) the criteria for distribution of funds among eligible airports.

Enabling airport sponsors to meet basic Federal Aviation Administration safety guidelines for obstruction clearance must be a major factor in the priority guidelines established by the Aeronautics Commission pursuant to this provision. The Commission also shall have discretion consistent with Section 55-5-170 of the 1976 Code to establish a program to grant Aviation Fund dollars for these purposes at the ratio of eighty percent from the fund to twenty percent from the local airport sponsor, or any ratio with a smaller relative contribution from the fund.

A report on the expenditure of these funds shall be submitted to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.

Unspent funds from the prior fiscal year may be carried forward to the current fiscal year and spent for like purposes.