User Fees

[CalifDan]

I thought this might be an intersting place to have this discussion as there are a lot of general, bussiness (135), and transport category flyers here.

AOPA has been making a lot of noise lately about the effort of the airline industry to alter the way that we pay for the operation of the airspace system. Apparently with some cooperation from the FAA, although I'm not sure that is clear yet. The effort seems to be directed to off-loading some airspace costs by reallocating based on use. The argument being that one aircraft in the system uses the same resources as any other and therefore, my Duchess for example, should pay the same as a 737 on a flight between any two given points.

I'm not sure if I disagree with that argument if it relates to the people being moved. But if it relates to the aircraft itself, which I think is the idea, it is going to change the cost pretty dramatically for small GA and the Netjet types.

I wondered how various segments of the business feel about this. While I know that the transport pilots have nothing to do with the issue (its management) it isn't management that will be flying in the system that results.

A few thoughts on that resulting system:

Will G/A be less likely to file because of the user fee cost, thereby making it less safe in the airspace systen?

Will different demands on the system be created? For example, I'm likely to pay the user fee and file, just because I'm not interested in being unsafe. On the other hand, I'm also not going to fly into San Carlos when SFO is going to be more usefull. After all, if I'm paying the same as that 747 my place in line is just as valuable.

We keep hearing from the management side of this. How do the pilots feel?

 

[Flying Illini]

I do think that GA would be less likely to retain services (this is small GA mind you, not business jets...though some probably would). This could really affect the shoddy cargo operators as well.

What's wrong with the current fuel tax?? The more you fly (use the system), the more you pay, the bigger your aircraft, the more fuel you burn, the more you pay. Have a 777 with 300 people on board? You recoup your fuel tax cost by charging more for the seats (theoretically, we all know the airlines aren't doing that right now).
Your Duchess can transport 3 people (not counting the pilot), why should it cost you the same price to move three people as it costs the airline to move 300 people?

I like the way it is....the more you use the system, the more you pay. Fuel taxes are easy to apply and easy to collect. I think the system is just fine, they folks are just looking for a way to cut the budget.

 

[lowtimedriver]

I do think that GA would be less likely to retain services (this is small GA mind you, not business jets...though some probably would). This could really affect the shoddy cargo operators as well.

What's wrong with the current fuel tax?? The more you fly (use the system), the more you pay, the bigger your aircraft, the more fuel you burn, the more you pay. Have a 777 with 300 people on board? You recoup your fuel tax cost by charging more for the seats (theoretically, we all know the airlines aren't doing that right now).
Your Duchess can transport 3 people (not counting the pilot), why should it cost you the same price to move three people as it costs the airline to move 300 people?

I like the way it is....the more you use the system, the more you pay. Fuel taxes are easy to apply and easy to collect. I think the system is just fine, they folks are just looking for a way to cut the budget.

Sort of like the federal income tax. The more you make, the more you pay.