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NAFI: Is Arizona Following In The Footsteps Of California?
Mon, 23 Aug '10
NAFI Concerned About Arizona Board Discussions On Flight-training Issues
The National Association of Flight Instructors recently became aware that the the Arizona State Board for Private and Postsecondary Education will have a meeting this week during which it will discuss the "Question of Regulation of Certain Classifications of Airplane Pilot and Instructors under Part 61 of the CFR."
The meeting will be held at on Thursday, August 26, in Conference Room B-1, 1400 West Washington St., in Phoenix. NAFI will monitor what happens in this meeting this week and provide information to the flight training community upon its completion.
Recently, California held similar discussions, which could result in potentially significant fees for flight training providers in that state. While the California law may still be amended, that effort is under review by the state legislature.
“We are concerned that Arizona may be considering similar fees,” says NAFI Executive Director Jason Blair. “As a state that has a significant number of flight-training providers, we’re concerned about the chilling effect those fees may have on those businesses. We’re encouraging our members in that state to get involved in this issue, so we don’t have a repeat of the California situation.”
Now that California is killing a golden goose, Arizona is looking to do the same. I'm going to miss the first meeting, but you bet I'm going to be at any additional ones as well as having sent letters, as well as organizing everyone I can.
EVERYONE that is in the slightest bit interested in aviation needs to be at the meeting or needs to write the board:
Thursday, August 26, in Conference Room B-1, 1400 West Washington St., in Phoenix (can't find a time yet)
ARRGH! This is a FEDERAL Certificate that is FEDERALLY controlled! Stop infringing on it!
I wish I had the $50,000 for a lawyer to get this problem heard in Federal Court and get an injunction. Otherwise every state looking for more money is going to get their hand into this pie. I already have the lawyer friend who'd do the arguing, I just don't have the court fees.
BTW, Colorado already has a law that costs certain part 141 schools somewhere around $10,000 a year. While it is a clearly defined law, it is still infringing on a Federally granted and controlled privilege.