Ellen

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...18funding.html

In short:
On February 14, the Bush Administration released its proposal for changing the funding mechanism for the Federal Aviation Administration. In short, here's what the administration proposal would do:


Raise general aviation gasoline taxes 366 percent to 70.1 cents per gallon (jet fuel is increased from 21.9 to 70.1 cents per gallon)

Allow

• the FAA to impose user fee charges on GA aircraft flying in Class B airspace
• Allow the FAA to charge landing fees at some 215 airports
• Charge the airlines user fees, instead of taxes, and reduce the amount the airlines pay to the federal government
• Create an airline-dominated board to help set user fee rates and run the air traffic control system
• Allow the FAA to set fees and spending with no recourse to Congress or the courts. (View the text of the Next Generation Air Transportation System Financing Reform Act of 2007.)

The players:
The FAA and Department of Transportation...
...want user fees to "match revenue to costs," to eliminate congressional controls on what they spend, and to charge pilots directly for FAA services.

The big airlines...
...want to shift some of the costs to support the FAA onto GA, and they want to control the air traffic control system and access to "their" airspace. (Sounds like a MONOPOLY to ME)

The White House...
...wants to take FAA funding "off budget" by charging user fees to free tax revenue for nonaviation uses. (Like funding a war that no one wants!)

General aviation...
...wants to preserve a robust aviation system that is the envy of the world and that serves all citizens, not just the wealthy.

The timeline:
Congress must take action by October 2007, as the existing authority to collect aviation taxes on fuel, passenger tickets, and air cargo waybills will expire.