There's a saying common in the aviation industry that when you've seen one airport, you've seen one airport. People who live in Roanoke know how unique and special their airport is. Having worked in Virginia state government during the Baliles administration when important investments were made in Roanoke's airport, I know how special it is.

The same can be said of all the other regional airports in the United States. That is why studies that lump all airports together, like the Business Travel Coalition report discussed in the July 11 news story "Roanoke airport faces challenging time" by Jeff Sturgeon, and your July 15 editorial "Airline cutbacks threaten Roanoke" have little credibility.

In a shameless attempt to garner publicity, BTC listed "50 airports at risk." I have spoken to some of those airports' managers and they, like Jacque Shuck at Roanoke, are outraged by what BTC is doing. BTC never contacted airport directors and has no idea what is going on in their communities. Rather than helping a difficult situation, BTC is hampering the efforts of airport and community officials to meet the air service challenges they are facing.

Is this a tough time for airlines and airports? Absolutely. Airports know, as do their constituents, that there is a fuel crisis; that times have changed, and that innovative action is called for. They are working to protect their communities and their economic growth.

That is why both small and large airports are taking a hard look at their budgets to determine how to reduce or maintain their landing fees and rental charges and increase operational efficiency.

In a recent meeting in Pittsburgh, I witnessed nearly 200 airports, including Roanoke, participating in JumpStart, an Airports Council International-North America air service development program that is much like speed-dating for airports and airlines. In one day, nearly 750 meetings with 28 airlines took place. Airport officials made their case to the airline representatives on why maintaining or introducing air service to their community made sense.