Fri, Feb 04, 2011
Government Increases Minimum Landing Charges Some 300
Percent
GA pilots who want to put their wheels on the ground in Spain
will find that minimum landing fees have increased some 300
percent, which AOPA's Spanish branch says is a blow to general
aviation in a country where GA is grossly under-developed, even
though VFR flying conditions are among the best in Europe.
AOPA Spain has written to the country's Development Minister
saying that Spain should be 'the Florida of Europe', but instead it
puts every obstacle in the way of the GA pilot. The pilot's
organization says the airport network run by the national operator
AENA, a de facto monopoly, is severely under-used, partly because
of mandatory handling, parking limitations, fuel supply problems
and terminal access. And the tripling of landing charges from
January 1st has not helped.
The letter seeks high-level negotiations to address issues
which, it says, constitute 'a fatal blow to general aviation and
aerial work and ensure the continued under-development of the
sector' in Spain. Traffic levels are 10 to 20 times lower than
those in northern European, and where a healthy GA industry might
employ 50,000 people, it remains moribund. The small companies
which predominate in GA are severely handicapped, contrary to the
recommendations of the Spanish government's own 2007 Strategic Plan
for the aviation sector.
The encouragement of GA tourism could be of great benefit to
Spain, the letter says, and with the country's uncongested airspace
and good weather Spain represents an attractive training option for
all of Europe, with benefits which could match those of Florida if
the obstacles were overcome.
In concert with the Royal Aero Club of Spain, the Aerial Work
Association and the Aviation Schools Association, AOPA will be
meeting ANEA officials in an attempt to have the landing charges
increase alleviated.
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