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24  HELICOPTER AIR SERVICE PROGRAM

I have no suggestions to make as to a better way to subsidize these operators. Frankly in my judgement the Congress did an outstanding job when it arrived at section 406.

Senator CANNON. I think we understand pretty well your position on it. I certainly didn't want to infer that you had led me to believe that you did not like this type of program and did not support it. My question was directed toward not only Government types of subsidization but whether or not you had any other recommendations for the committee that we might explore that are not presently in the law and are not necessarily directed toward a Government subsidy.

Mr. BOYD. The only thing that I can think of, Senator, is in the area of the trunk lines picking up part of the check. As I say, they are doing this already, So it is not a new or novel idea.

Whether it would be worth-whether you could make an accurate value judgment and say to the trunk lines you put up 80 percent and we will put up the rest, or put it another way, if you don't put up 80 percent there won't be any subsidy, just to use a figure, then that might be one way to do it. You might also find that it wasn't worth that cost to the trunk lines. This I cannot answer.

Senator MONRONEY. Will you yield right there?

Roughly wasn't the trunk line net income up to around $200 million this year?

Mr. BOYD. Yes, sir.

Senator MONRONEY. If they should share up to $2 million of the combined trunk line revenue, it would amount to only 1 percent of their net income. It would be in their own interest if it were expanded to a few other communities; would it not?

Mr. BOYD. It would be a small amount of the net income, $2 million, yes, Sir.

As to whether they would consider it to be in their own interest, I am unqualified to speak.

Senator MONRONEY. What I am driving at, if the Senator will yield further, is that we are at a very vital stage in our air transport development. That is, how can we narrow this ever growing distance between the areas to be served within the city and the airport proper.  Ground travel time is consuming a greater and greater percentage-wise of total travel time-travel time to and from the airport, in many instances, takes longer than actual flight time.

Therefore, it seems to me that the airlines themselves should reevaluate some of their current expenses such as in-flight entertainment, private clubs, etcetera. All of these things get cranked into the cost of the air fare in one way or another. Certainly I would rather see something cranked into the air fare in the way of some financial help to the helicopters-help to get you from here to there as fast as possible, which is the principal purpose of air transportation.

Mr. BOYD. We share your sentiments, Mr. Chairman. I can only tell you that I do know from private conversations that a number of the trunk operators are devoting a lot of time and study to this matter. I am obviously not in a position to speak for them.

Senator MONRONEY. One of the reasons, if the Senator will yield further, to get this in focus, is that we are kind of caught on what we used to call in automobile touring as high center. The wheels are spinning in the legislative committee because we feel this is very