Tac Air bill delayed until next year in Tennessee

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - The Senate Transportation Committee today deferred legislation wading into a dispute between Tac Air and Chattanooga's airport authority until next year.

Privately owned TAC Air provides fuel and hangar space for private airplanes at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport. It is seeking to block future use of grants from the state's Transportation Equity Fund that local officials have used to set up a competing fixed-base operation run by another firm.

"I don't think any of us want tax dollars to be used to compete with the private sector," said Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plain, the bill's sponsor.

But noting the issue is "hot," Niceley said, "I think we need a little time to cool this off." He requested the bill be delayed until next year.

The bill was also heard in the House Transportation Subcommittee today. It was delayed until next week.

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