Stevens Says Fee "Places An Undue Burden" On Small
Carriers
One week after casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of
legislation to tack a proposed $25 per flight surcharge on general
aviation aircraft throughout the United States, Senator Ted
Stevens, R-Alaska, was hard at work trying to get Alaskan pilots
exempted from the charge, according to his staff.
Stevens (above), vice chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science
and Transportation Committee, tucked a fee exemption for some
Alaskan pilots in the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of
2007 that was approved May 17.
"I am concerned that this legislation as originally drafted
places an undue burden on too many small carriers in rural parts of
America, including Alaska," said Stevens. "Changes to any portion
of the aviation industry will have a tremendous impact on our
state. This provision will exempt many of Alaska's aviators and
will especially help our rural communities that rely so heavily on
aviation as a basic means of transportation and commerce."
As ANN reported, the Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association noted Stevens cast the tie-breaking
vote with hesitation. Referring to the effect of user fees on
aircraft flying in Alaska, Stevens said he thought there was "a bit
of unfairness" in the bill, but he wanted to send it to the Senate
floor.
The Alaska Airmen's Association gave the Senate a copy of a
petition signed by 1,700 pilots and group members opposing the
Senate bill, according to the Alaska Journal of Commerce. What, if
any, impact this will have remains to be seen.
Such user fees are opposed by GA organizations such as the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the National Business
Aviation Association. The Alliance for Aviation Across America -- a
"catch-all" coalition of groups opposed to user fees, including
representatives from smaller communities in the lower 48 states --
formed in April to present a united front of protest to the FAA's
funding scheme.
Although the Senate funding plan would do away with many of the
fees to be imposed on pilots of smaller aircraft, the groups
remained opposed to ALL user fees -- saying just one fee leaves the
door open for more down the line. Also of concern is that Congress
would lose much of its current oversight authority of the FAA under
the funding plan.
Alaskan business owners are worried about the impact new fees
would have on their businesses, as well. Many rely on small
aircraft to travel throughout "The Last Frontier."
"We're aware that language is being considered in the bill that
would address how the $25 ATC modernization fee would be applied
for flights within the state of Alaska and have no objections to
this language," said Joe Sprague with Alaska Airlines, a member of
the Airline Transport Association which has thrown its support
behind the FAA reauthorization legislation.
Stevens staffers say this bill will inevitably be changed by
other committees as it makes its way to the House... and this issue
is by no means cast in stone.