strfyr51

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the only way they can make these programs part of the American business plan would be to RE-Regualate the airline industry. And? Neither Major Political party has the gumption to do that Especially since that would deny the posibility that Deregulation was actually a GOOD Idea. (which for the most part I believe it is), I'm sure we will debate the merits of De-regulation for the remainder of my life, but the unforseen consequences like EAS cannot be made right as there will be HAVES and Have NOTS. And air fares will be for the most part Higher as there are no more "
"Price saviours" out there anymore, only "Fee Saviours"

JamesNoBrakes

There's a difference between spending money and blatently wasting it. EAS blatently wastes money and in some situations it's ridiculous (like ours, 1.5hrs from major airport, considering waiting for aircraft schedules, it's NOT quicker than taking the airport shuttle down to the major hub, which runs almost hourly from here).

It's part of the entire problem with the industry, too many planes, too many airlines and too many pilots. EAS artificially inflates the industry. EMS service? Yeah, that probably makes some sense. Once you make air service "essential", things are going to get worse from there...

The intention of EAS is good, but too many senators stick their fingers in the pork barrel and try to get a little "something" for themselves (their consitituants). Then they look good and can claim they are "fighting" for whom they represent, etc. Seems to me that a good 60-70% of it is completely unnecessary.

minimwage4

Yea and stopping a subsidy of some podunk route is going to put a big dent in all of that. Like someone said they'll find another way to waste that saved money. At least give it to the these poor souls that live in the middle of nowhere so they can travel around the country too.

JamesNoBrakes

And with that kind of attitude, we'll never pay it down...You don't need a 30 minute plane ride (preceeded by at least 1hr of waiting, not to mention boarding/deplaning) in place of a 1.5hr drive to "travel around the country".

minimwage4

Not all of these cities are a 1.5 hour drive. It's better to drive up and checkin in a matter of minutes at an outstation, take the 30min to 1 hour plane ride that parks right at the terminal rather than spend the 3 or 4 hours drive from home to terminal. Plus you have to think about gas, parking costs, other logistics for someone that lives far away. I'm sure some routes are unnecessary but not all.

OnMyWay

Enough said....

CA1900

The issue isn't whether it's "better"; the issue is whether it's "essential."

Does $2.3 million to subsidize Colgan in Bar Harbor seem reasonable? We're subsidizing each passenger at $100, while Bangor is just an 80-minute drive away. That's about a $75 cab ride, incidentally. Even if we had the government subsidizing the taxis, we'd save half a million dollars!

$1.1 Million to go from Athens to Atlanta in a Caravan? Seriously?


It's your right as an American to live in the most remote part of the US that you'd like. But it's not my responsibility as a taxpayer to make it more convenient nor less expensive for you to do so.

jayray2

I was going to half way agree with you, then I remembered as a Regional pilot in 4 years I haven't paid a single penny in Federal Income tax. In fact I got all my income tax money back +800 dollars last year.

Anyway, any argument you make trying to show what your responsibilities are as a tax payer are futile. It isn't your responsibility to pay for a lot of things, like corn subsidies and Amtrak subsidies but you still do and always will. EAS is small potatoes.

afterburn81

Good post man. It's a shame more people like yourself don't speak up.