Aero-News: Quote of the Day

ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues.

Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.

Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day.

Let us hear from you, folks!

Aero-News Quote of the Day

"This new proposal will make flying more convenient for millions of travelers. Anyone who has experienced the frustration and inconvenience of a delayed flight should take a very close look at what we’re proposing." -- DOT Secretary Mary Peters

"[A] manufactured crisis based on flawed financial assumptions about the viability of the current funding system and the cost of the 'NextGen' air traffic control system." -- AOPA President Phil Boyer

"Our proposal will make it easier for airports, airlines and controllers to keep pace with the skyrocketing demand for air travel this nation is going to experience over the coming decades." -- FAA Administrator Marion Blakey

"We support the need to modernize, but listen to the weasel words carefully. They never say that the current, proven tax system can not raise necessary funds for NextGen." -- Boyer

"It's fitting that the FAA's plan has been introduced on Valentine's Day, because it's a sweetheart deal between the Agency and the commercial airlines." -- NBAA President Ed Bolen

"ATA views the administration’s proposal as a starting point for Congress to draw upon as it begins its consideration of the crucial future course of our nation’s air transport system. We look forward to working with Congress and the administration to build a 21st century ATC system supported by equitable, sustainable funding." -- ATA President James May

"As much as I respect Administrator Blakey, I don't believe that the American public should be comfortable with all of that power in the hands of one czarina." -- Boyer

"We think the Agency should be focused on safety rather than revenue collection. We don't want to see the FAA Administrator adding 'tax czar' to his or her list of duties, and we don't need to create an IRS branch at the Agency." -- Bolen

"If we adopt a user-fee system like other countries of the world, we'll become just like them. Average citizens will no longer be able to afford to fly, many of the services general aviation provides to rural areas will cease to exist, and only the rich and the airlines will continue to benefit from the investments all of us have made in our air transportation system." -- Boyer

Source: As you can see, the ANN staff couldn't decide on what one quote best sums up the escalation of the user fee battle between the FAA and the airlines on one side, and GA and business aviation interests on the other, that we saw Wednesday. So, we offer the synopsis above... and invite our readers to chime in on what they feel were the most significant statements and/or revelations.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.airlines.org, www.aopa.org, www.nbaa.org, Tell Us YOUR Quote Of The Day Suggestion