Mon, Mar 29, 2004
Capitol Hill Update
The FAA continues to draw fire from
Capitol Hill, from AOPA, and from pilots over its proposed
charity/sightseeing rule, which the general aviation advocacy
organization says would drive hundreds of Part 91 sightseeing
operators out of business and make thousands of pilots ineligible
to help charities raise funds by offering flights for
donations.
"This rule hurts pilots, cripples charity fundraising efforts,
and exterminates hundreds of small businesses," said AOPA Senior
Vice President of Government and Technical Affairs Andy Cebula.
"It's taking a concerted effort by Congress, by AOPA and other
aviation groups, and by pilots to make the FAA understand that this
is a bad and unnecessary rule."
Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) questioned
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey (right) about the proposed rule's
implications on small businesses, during a recent hearing on the
agency's FY 2005 budget request. And Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham
(R-CA), himself a pilot and AOPA member, echoed concerns about the
proposed rule's impact, saying that it does not succeed in its
intent of improving safety. "I understand and applaud efforts to
make our skies safer," he said in a letter to Blakey. "However, I
do not believe that this [notice of proposed rulemaking]
accomplishes this goal."
At the same time, the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee is evaluating the issue, and the House Small Business
subcommittee, chaired by another pilot and AOPA member, Rep. Sam
Graves (R-MO), has committed to holding a hearing on the business
impact of the proposed rule if the FAA doesn't address the aviation
community concerns.
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