User Fee Proposal Dead?

Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., is close to declaring the FAA’s proposal to impose user fees on general aviation dead. "I think we’ve finally gotten the stake out and are about to drive it through user fees," he told The Wichita Eagle's editorial board last week. Tiahrt told the Eagle brass that he’s made fighting the funding proposal his top priority and enlisted the support of other members of Congress to defeat the plan. On the Eagle's editorial board's blog, Tiahrt’s tenacity was applauded but it appears that not everyone in aviation-centric Wichita thinks user fees are a bad idea. "I have my 'stunned disbelief' hat on today," wrote one respondent to the blog. "I'm stunned that Tiahrt's top priority is a user fee for wealthy people." Others mentioned that there are some other issues in front of Congress (wars, famine, pestilence, that sort of thing) that might be more deserving of Tiahrt’s less divided attention, while others pointed out that "user fees" exist for everything from boat launches to freeways.

 

I'm wealthy? Awesome!! I'll remember that the next time I'm scrapping rust off my 10 year old car with 137K miles, after spending an entire paycheck just to get some air time. What morons people are. AOPA's survey found that the average active private pilots has a family income of less than $100K.

 

I'm scraping rust from my bank account to make ends meet. Any extra shillings that get tossed in my hat go towads flying. Sold my car to pay for my IFR rating. Sometimes selling things on ebay. I think the dumbing down of our federal gov't is in a downward spiral to a bottomless pit. USer fees for general aviation? LOL!

 

If it's shotdown today we'll see it tomorrow. Baby steps

 

I think the airlines are pushing user fees to level the playing field with the Netjet type of companies. To them it is no fair that the airlines have to charge their customers huge taxes while the competition in smaller planes slip by in GA. It gives them an unfair advantage. I don't think anyone is trying to get rich off the kid doing touch and goes.

SkyHigh

 

I think the problem is we need to redefine the term "GA". I do feel that netjets and the like get away like bandits without any fees. But the bottomline is user-fees and taxes can not be imposed on the weekend warrior.

 

Whew! (as I wipe the sweat from my face) I hope you're right because that would put a serious dent in most pilots' banks accounts.

 

You're probably right, but in the end, it gives the FAA the authority to do so. AOPA has a great vid about a flight they did with our fellow European counterpart. The X-C trip started with 2 different fee's, one for a weather briefing, and the next for the filing of their flight plane. Then you get a Departure fee, enroute facility, approach(For each approach, and pending airport, one approach could cost $1000-1500). The list goes on, this was for a twin commanche I believe.

I won't go into much else, not looking for a fight. But for all of us, and our future(think how badly this would effect future flight training, there's a reason the US is very popular for that), I hope they kill the whole thing dead

 

Skyhigh,

You are correct in the fact that airlines are the driving factor behind this push. I think it's very narrow-sighted though. Airlines pay significantly lower fuel taxes than GA does (at least in Missouri and Illinois). Right now 100LL is around $4.15 per gallon in the area. Taxes account for $2. GA is heavily taxed, the ownership of such a high-end aircraft means big taxes too.

As a GA pilot yourself, I'm sure you don't use ATC nearly as much as any airline and know that most people flying bizjets are going to use feeder airports rather than the major hub airport for a number of reasons. They'll also choose to fly at times that bennefit them most. Why should you, or anybody else be saddled with the costs when we aren't maxing out the system like the hub-and-spoke system?

So where do you draw the line on what is "GA" and what isn't? What about 135 cargo operators? What about airshow performers? Adding fees instantly segregates an industry and has the potential for destroying tens of thousands of jobs, which help contribute to our tax system. I don't get charged any premium if I choose to drive around in a limo which puts more stress on the road (damaging it faster) than I would driving a sub-compact, why should I be punished because I choose a more effective and time-saving method of travel than the airlines? That's capitalism at work.

Here's the biggest problem that I have with user fees. Who pays them once GA is destroyed? Where do many cities make up the lost revenue from their local airport and the dozens of jobs that are located on that property? We're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars that the airlines would likely be saddled with in the end. Who's fault is it then? Fed Ex and UPS don't have any problems with increased taxes and costs, they just add a surcharge. Cab companies and others do this as well. Why do people's spending habits suddenly change regarding an airline ticket?

Take a look at Canada to see how well user fees are doing. AirCanada pushed them hardcore and within three years they declared bankruptcy. Any guess as to what they cited as the primary factor? Increased costs directly associated with user fees.

 

Aren't the taxes we pay to keep the FAA afloat "user fees" in itself? WTF is going on in this country?