FAA user fees

[Nolife]

Any opinions about the proposed FAA user fees?

I'm against it and think the IFR skies should be for everyone. Just looking to see how other pilots feel, both professional and private.

 

[pilotyip]

But the money is needed for the poor people.

 

[Nolife]

But the money is needed for the poor people.

Sadly, I think the money is needed for Iraq.

 

[Dilligaff]

My prediction is if GW gets these user fees put in place, the cost of flying will become prohibitive for too many people. Many flight schools will go out of business and the number of new student pilot starts will drop dramatically eventually causing a pilot shortage. For those who continue to fly I think you will see a lot of VFR flights operating without flight following and safety will be diminished. I really don't see a positive spin to user fees. But what do I know - I'm just a pilot!

BTW, how is NavCanada doing these days?

 

[Low Pass]

Sadly, I think the money is needed for Iraq.

If only that were true. It's needed to satisfy the greedy, power-drunk individuals who are the federal government and as pay back the lobbyists from the ATA and the airlines who think this will help them. It will surely deal a serious blow to light GA. One that will have significant negative trickle-down effects to suppliers and manufacturers alike. The results will be much less GA, higher prices and reduced safety as the remaining GA pilots will be driven out of the system into scud running.

 

[Nolife]

I agree whole-heartedly with you Lowpass. I support AOPA and really hope they can fight this off... however the proponents pockets are very deep, and we know that money talks and.... walks.

What do airline pilots and ALPA think about user fees? Perhaps they should let management know their opinions.

 

[SPilot]

I just joined AOPA.

 

[AC560]

BTW, how is NavCanada doing these days?

Hurting Canada's cargo business. Combine their terminals plus NavCan fees and it is cheaper dump dense cargo into DTW/ORD from Europe and truck it across the bridge.

 

[Low Pass]

I agree whole-heartedly with you Lowpass. I support AOPA and really hope they can fight this off... however the proponents pockets are very deep, and we know that money talks and.... walks.

What do airline pilots and ALPA think about user fees? Perhaps they should let management know their opinions.

Well, IMVHO, I wouldn't agitate your airline management or ALPA on this one! They don't care and unless you know an executive type, have no involvement.

But if you personally have any concern for the future of light GA in this country - for educational, entertainment or economic purposes - then you really should join AOPA and write letters to your US reps. AOPA does a fine job of government advocacy for a group of their size.

 

[pilotyip]

AOPA is probably the only reason we have the strongest GA sector in the world, but we are such an easy target because we are so rich and it always easy to take money away from rich people.

 

[TrafficInSight]

AOPA is probably the only reason we have the strongest GA sector in the world, but we are such an easy target because we are so rich and it always easy to take money away from rich people.

I must have missed the memo

 

[SIG600]

My prediction is if GW gets these user fees put in place, the cost of flying will become prohibitive for too many people. Many flight schools will go out of business and the number of new student pilot starts will drop dramatically eventually causing a pilot shortage. For those who continue to fly I think you will see a lot of VFR flights operating without flight following and safety will be diminished. I really don't see a positive spin to user fees. But what do I know - I'm just a pilot!

BTW, how is NavCanada doing these days?

Exactly right on all accounts. Why do you think it costs 600-700 an hour to rent a Seneca in England, or why so many European pilots come to the US to train? I predict a drastic increase in accidents/incidents due to a lower level of participation in the ATC system. Who the hell is gonna pay for VFR flight following on a weekend cross country? How many people are going to push bad weather VFR because they can't afford to file IFR? This is just a horrible idea on so many levels it's amazing that it's even still being considered.

 

[dseagrav]

This is just a horrible idea on so many levels it's amazing that it's even still being considered.

Because they need the increased accident rate to justify the total ban on general aviation they plan to enact around 2012. They need the GA ban to create the pilot shortage that will justify replacing pilots with computers in 2020.

 

[erj-145mech]

"Bonanza 123AB, you're Visa just maxed out, squawk VFR, radar service terminated, have a good day"

 

[AC560]

"Bonanza 123AB, you're Visa just maxed out, squawk VFR, radar service terminated, have a good day"

Haha or better yet "Bonanza 123AB, radar contact please squawk the last 4 digits of any major credit card".

While I am against paying user fees, what I am really against is the pain in the ass it will be to pay the user fees. Do I get a bill at my house, how do they tell who was flying such and such N number, etc. Seems to me it is going to take a lot more money to collect $20 then $20.

 

[BOOZENEWS]

I'll seriously consider moving to the Bahamas is this all comes to be!!

 

[neflier]

Haha or better yet "Bonanza 123AB, radar contact please squawk the last 4 digits of any major credit card".

While I am against paying user fees, what I am really against is the pain in the ass it will be to pay the user fees. Do I get a bill at my house, how do they tell who was flying such and such N number, etc. Seems to me it is going to take a lot more money to collect $20 then $20.

You can bet your a$$ that fees will be more than $20. Any expense incurred in collecting these fees will just be added to the fees. You get to pay to get raped.

IFR Student: "New York Approach, N1234 requesting multiple practice ILS 6 into ISP"

NYTRACON: " N1234 Squauk 4323. At $40 an approach, how many do you want?"

Let's look at GA over the past few years:

TFR's that are now "PFR's"
Terrorist Daley in Chicago destroying Miggs field (criminal action IMHO)
Now 'User Fees' about to be shoved down our throat

If this trend keeps going, you can kiss GA in the USA goodby. Our freedoms are gone.

 

[siucavflight]

As a former flight insturctor this sucks. But as an airline pilot this would be a dream come true. The cost would put the cost of flight training out of the hands of most new and hopeful pilots, thus continuing to decrease the amount of professional pilots around the country. What would happen next would be that the airlines would have to now compete to attract new pilots to the airlines. Thus wages go up, and QOL goes up. I never thought that I would say this, but I am pro-user fees, and I understand that it is for very selfish reasons. Just my .02

 

[neflier]

As a former flight insturctor this sucks. But as an airline pilot this would be a dream come true. The cost would put the cost of flight training out of the hands of most new and hopeful pilots, thus continuing to decrease the amount of professional pilots around the country. What would happen next would be that the airlines would have to now compete to attract new pilots to the airlines. Thus wages go up, and QOL goes up. I never thought that I would say this, but I am pro-user fees, and I understand that it is for very selfish reasons. Just my .02

Thank god the world revolves around you. Bury GA and our personal freedoms for a chance for you to advance in your career. Would you have been able to afford flight training under the proposed user fees?

What a f%^king tool. Get back to your Replacement Jet and delusions of grandeur.

 

[siucavflight]

Thank god the world revolves around you. Bury GA and our personal freedoms for a chance for you to advance in your career. Would you have been able to afford flight training under the proposed user fees?

What a f%^king tool. Get back to your Replacement Jet and delusions of grandeur.

Like I said above, it was for selfish reasons, but yes I do care about me! And yes I would have been able to afford flight training under the proposed user fees, although I agree many will not be able to, and it will pretty much be the death of GA in this country(which again I am OK with)

 

[dseagrav]

the death of GA in this country(which again I am OK with)

Well, if it's all the same, I hope your employer treats you with all the respect and consideration you have for us. (That is, I hope they use you like the tool you are and burn you to a crisp, pay you the bare minimum required to keep you alive and you rack up huge debts, then throw you away like so much garbage when the next batch of riddle rats will fly for less than you did.)

I realize this would be a really ********************ty existence for you, but I would be OK with that.

 

[BGSkyGuy]

siucavflight you suck

"Like I said above, it was for selfish reasons, but yes I do care about me!"

What a guy...

"And yes I would have been able to afford flight training under the proposed user fees, although I agree many will not be able to,"

Gee, Thanks Mom and Dad!!!!!!!!

"and it will pretty much be the death of GA in this country(which again I am OK with)"


GA is the only reason you have a flying job today! What the F*&^ is wrong with you! With that logic you might as well off mommy and daddy now that they have outlived their usefulness by paying for your flight training. Do you not see how destructive user fees will be to aviation in general? Either you are intentionally trying to p!$$ people off or you are the biggest imbecile to ever soil a cockpit with your presence.

 

[siucavflight]

Gee, Thanks Mom and Dad!!!!!!!!

Mom and Dad? I dont think so.

I have to say you guys got more bent out of shape then I thought you would. Of course I dont want user fees, I actually own half of a Cirrus and would not want to pay user fees evert time that I felt like flying it.
Sometimes though it might be good for you to let someone express their feelings without calling them names, nothing wrong with entering into an actual adult style debate with someone.

 

[BGSkyGuy]

Mom and Dad? I dont think so.


Of course I dont want user fees, I actually own half of a Cirrus and would not want to pay user fees evert time that I felt like flying it.
Sometimes though it might be good for you to let someone express their feelings without calling them names, nothing wrong with entering into an actual adult style debate with someone.

But wait a minute, is there another siucavflight out there because I could almost swear that in your last post you said...

"I never thought that I would say this, but I am pro-user fees, and I understand that it is for very selfish reasons. Just my .02"

As far as calling you names, if the shoe fits...........

 

[BGSkyGuy]

Oops I forgot who I was dealing with here. Due to your extreme lack of foresight I had better finish my last line for you.

If the shoe fits, wear it.

 

[Nolife]

Suic... the supposed pilot shortage wouldn't help your career. That would mean cancellations due to lack of staffing, your airline not running efficiently, reduced growth. However there would be maximum ovetime for you, so yes your paycheck would be great but so long wife, kids, and quailty of life.

BTW... in case you don't know GA is more than flight schools and private pilots. Freight, air ambulance, charter and such would all be affected. These user fees won't kill GA. It will make GA the playground for the very rich and the traveling public will be at the mercy of airlines.

 

[wrxpilot]

As a former flight insturctor this sucks. But as an airline pilot this would be a dream come true. The cost would put the cost of flight training out of the hands of most new and hopeful pilots, thus continuing to decrease the amount of professional pilots around the country. What would happen next would be that the airlines would have to now compete to attract new pilots to the airlines. Thus wages go up, and QOL goes up. I never thought that I would say this, but I am pro-user fees, and I understand that it is for very selfish reasons. Just my .02

The problem I see these days is that there are too many people like you. Me me me. My family has been involved with GA, military, and airline aspects of aviation since my grandfather. But the roots and tradition for all of us were in GA. To not be able to share that with future generations would be beyond heartbreaking.

Wow, I am just amazed a pilot would say what you did. Damn.

 

[wrxpilot]

And yes I would have been able to afford flight training under the proposed user fees, although I agree many will not be able to, and it will pretty much be the death of GA in this country(which again I am OK with)

Are you drunk or something? You are ok with the death of GA?

 

[Amish RakeFight]

GA is where it all started for many of us - Respect it.

 

[cjdriver]

Never mind.