FAA user fees

[BGSkyGuy]

Yep, greed and glutny, two of the deadly sins.

Now that we are being petty, don't you mean gluttony there Einstein?

 

[siucavflight]

Now that we are being petty, don't you mean gluttony there Einstein?

I used the old Latin spelling of the word.

 

[svcta]

I wrote my congressman. Anyone else?

Addition: Mention the Fair Tax while you're at it and get a two for one!

 

[svcta]

looks like that quieted everyone down.

 

[wrxpilot]

I wrote my congressman. Anyone else?

Addition: Mention the Fair Tax while you're at it and get a two for one!

Mine's going in the mail tomorrow.

 

[HelloNewman]

Mine's going in the mail tomorrow.

Good and when they ignore your letter and pass the bill anyway make sure you get that bank account ready. We won't be more like europe, this is called pulling your own weight. Time for the GA guys to help pay what the airlines have been paying for years. The taxes are out of whack and its time to correct that. If you don't wanna pay to play then don't try and use up the airspace when you don't need to. Fly VFR and save yourself the headaches.

 

[Natef26]

What is the likelihood that these proposed changes will pass? As student pilot hopeful this is worrysome as I am definitely not made of money.
What effect will this have on VFR only flight training and soloing?

 

[svcta]

Newman, do you own an airline? No, wait, you must be ex-military. There's no way you could come from GA and not be worried about what user fees would do to the pleasure flyer. I rarely, as in almost never use the IFR system outside of work but I am involved pretty heavily with vintage aircraft in my free time. I've flown privately owned planes overseas, too, and I would really not like to see our system become as prohibitive as theirs.

All of that put aside, I have seen first hand how cheap and shady some operators out there are and I shudder to think of all of the cargo haulers, cheap private guys, etc. running around out there trying to pinch a nickel in hundred dollar weather.

 

[wrxpilot]

Good and when they ignore your letter and pass the bill anyway make sure you get that bank account ready. We won't be more like europe, this is called pulling your own weight. Time for the GA guys to help pay what the airlines have been paying for years. The taxes are out of whack and its time to correct that. If you don't wanna pay to play then don't try and use up the airspace when you don't need to. Fly VFR and save yourself the headaches.

1)At least I can say I tried by writing letters and discussing the issues face to face with my representatives (yep, I've done both).
2)Pulling our own weight? The ATC system is setup for the airlines - not GA.
3)Killing off GA will have a net negative effect on society due to jobs lost in the aviation industry. Not just pilots, but technicians, engineers, service employees, etc.

You seem awfully bitter... Just another pathetic troll like "sicuvaflight" is my guess.

 

[wrxpilot]

Here's my letter:


The Honorable Ken Salazar
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Ken Salazar:

My name is XXXX and I am a mechanical engineer and a general aviation pilot in the state of Colorado. I am writing you to express my deep concern over the FAA’s financial proposal for NGATS (Next Generation Air Transportation System). The NGATS plan will remove the FAA from Congressional oversight, will lead to the absolute devastation of General Aviation in the United States, and will have a tremendously negative impact on the strong aviation contribution to the economy of Colorado.

FAA services are currently funded by taxes on aviation fuel, airline passenger ticket taxes, and the general taxpayer fund. This financially fair and healthy source of funding has been in place for over forty years and has continuously allowed the FAA to operate with an excess of funding. The Office of Management and Budget has shown that the current funding plan will allow the FAA to perform all requested future services, while the FAA’s proposed financial plan will actually take in less funding.

The FAA’s plan would shift the costs of operating our air traffic control system (that exists almost exclusively for the airlines) to the general aviation community in the form of a shocking 366% increase in fuel taxes on top of various user fees for activities such as simply requesting to fly within the airspace of areas like Denver. The precedent will be set for many other user fees, such as obtaining weather information, filing flight plans, etc. The safety impact this will have makes me shudder.

The stifling increase in fuel taxes and the addition of user fees will increase the costs of general aviation so much that it will be beyond the financial reach of ordinary middle class citizens such as myself. As a young, aspiring professional pilot, I fear that I and countless others will be forced out of aviation – both recreationally and professionally. Colorado will be hit particularly hard, as it is home to numerous aircraft manufacturers such as Adam Aircraft, Pilatus Aircraft Industries, Aviation Technology Group, Inc. and other general aviation employers involved with air freight, air ambulance, charter operations, fabrication, maintenance, and service facilities. Not only will pilots be affected, but also countless engineers, technicians, support staff, service workers, and the tourism industry.

I urge you to carefully consider the damage this legislation will cause to the national and local aviation and aerospace industries. Please use your influence to maintain our healthy and vibrant aviation industry, which is considered far and above the best and safest in the world.

Sincerely,

XXXXX