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364  HELICOPTER AIR SERVICE PROGRAM

their attention the developments in the industry.  We hope they will do more of that, even though they were absent when you called. 

Senator MONRONEY. One thing I might point up.  If the trunkline industry decides to go into this it might be of some interest to the CAB, and I am sure it would be to this committee, the vast amount that your trunklines pay into these various airports for landing fees.  You are doing your part to maintain the stability and the continued existence and profitable operation, economic operation, of these airports into which you fly.  Certainly I believe some help, if no help other than a diminishment of the expenses that have been charged to these helicopter operators, could be diminished greatly or even waived for a brief period of time until they can adjust their traffic to meet the current expenses that they now face. 

MR. TIPTON. I think that would be extremely useful, if airports and communities could be of assistance in that way.  Obviously they benefit in having available this service, and if possible it would be very good to have them handle the helicopter companies' affairs with recognition of the fact that they are going through a particularly arduous period, and that period is arduous.

The Civil Aeronautics Board's program is one that we have agreed to.  I think we have to recognize that it is not an easy one when you have to quintuple your traffic in a period of 5 years and reduce operating expenses by one-third, unit operating expenses by one-third. That is a trick the operators feel they can do.  We all have to recognize that it will take a lot of people working in order to get that job done. 

Senator MONRONEY. I quite agree with you.  I also think it will take a lot of work up here on the Hill to get the continuation of the President's subsidy level voted by the Appropriations Committee. Although the Senate apparently is generally willing to vote it, you know the story in the House. 

Mr. TIPTON.  Yes.

Senator MONRONEY. We would need, I think, to persuade the House. We are very serious about the industry getting together by the time the appropriation comes up in the House, some word that not just the trunklines but the airport operators themselves would be willing to contribute in some way, either directly or by reduction of fees charged, to help maintain the solvency of this helicopter program. 

I think that would be very helpful, to insist as much as you reasonably can, as a part of your contribution as trunklines, that various means be found by airport operators to also do some of this.  After all they freely asked the Federal Government for vast sums of money under the Federal Aid to Airport Act, the ATA, for example, even tells us where we need a vast number of improvements. 

At this point, while we are of one mind, we should throw the ball back to them and say, you have to carry the ball just a little way to get it across the goal.  Our $5 million is there, and I think can be there, if there are some other contributions coming in to supplement it so that more towns that are now being served can hope to be served at the same rate of subsidy we are now paying.

I think CAB could offer good guidance on how this can be arranged in the event you pick up the ball.  It would be better to have the idea spring and work from the free entreprise field rather than have it come from government.

Do you have anything further?