TO THE HONORABLE DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO MICHAEL HUERTA, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, The Grant County International Airport (MWH) has one of the largest runways in North America that can meet the needs of the largest aircraft in the world; and

WHEREAS, The five runways at MWH serve the unique needs of the military and aerospace sector from across the nation for military training, aircraft testing, aircraft certification, pilot training, and emergency preparedness; and

WHEREAS, The five runways at MWH are often being used by aircraft with specific needs at the same time; and

WHEREAS, The Grant County International Airport provides war readiness training facilities for all branches of the United States Military in Washington State; and

WHEREAS, The Grant County International Airport serves as the ready reserve base for Fairchild Air Force Base; and

WHEREAS, The assault runway at MWH is a critical training ground for the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, and the Air National Guard; and

WHEREAS, The Grant County International Airport serves the United States Forest Service and Washington State Department of Natural Resources with aerial wildfire training infrastructure and facilities for staging and deploying aerial wildfire tankers; and

WHEREAS, The Grant County International Airport continues to be a favored location for aircraft certification and testing by the Boeing Company, Mitsubishi Aircraft, the United States Military, and other aerospace sectors; and

WHEREAS, Aircraft certification and testing entails rejected take-off situations, simulated equipment failures, touch and go landings, full stop and goes, and other aerial maneuvers that cannot be accomplished at other airports; and

WHEREAS, The Grant County International Airport supports the future of aviation by partnering with Big Bend Community College to train and educate pilots and aviation technicians; and

WHEREAS, The Grant County International Airport is utilized by flight schools from Eastern Washington to conduct instrument approaches and pattern work and advanced professional pilot training; and

WHEREAS, Meeting these unique and variable functions for the aerospace sector, the United States Military, the United States Forest Service, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and flight schools requires on-site Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities at the Grant County International Airport; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Aviation Administration is required to periodically review potential realignment and consolidation of TRACON facilities; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing potential realignment of the TRACON facilities at the Grant County International Airport; and

WHEREAS, More than twenty-six letters opposing consolidation of Grant County International Airport TRACON facilities with Spokane have been sent from Members of Congress, the Governor of Washington State, area legislative leaders, military leaders in Washington State, aerospace businesses, and concerned local groups;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that:

(1) The Federal Aviation Administration keep intact the TRACON facilities at the Grant County International Airport so that MWH can continue to serve national security training needs for the United States Military, emergency preparedness in Washington State, aircraft testing and certification, and pilot training;

(2) Members of Washington's Congressional Delegation work together to make permanent the TRACON facilities at Grant County International Airport.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, Michael Huerta, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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