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

"A user fee system can generate sufficient funds during the good times, but it falls apart during an economic downturn, which is exactly what happened to NAV CANADA after 9/11. The US national air transportation system is well served by the stable funding stream provided by the existing combination of taxes and general fund contributions."

Source: AOPA VP of Regulatory Affairs Andy Cebula, on privatized ATC operator NAV CANADA's proposal to add a $5-per-day fee for aircraft less than 6,075 lbs gross weight to operate at any of eight major Canadian airports. The fee is intended to keep GA traffic away from the busiest airports while also helping to pay off the agency's debt -- currently $116 million. NAV CANADA is often cited by user fee proponents as an example of a successful fee-based aviation regulatory agency.

FMI: www.navcanada.ca, www.aopa.org