References To User Fees, Additional Equipment Ominous To
GA
Although user fees have
been rejected by Congress and the general aviation community on an
almost-yearly basis over the past decade, EAA officials are
extremely concerned following U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Norman Mineta's speech to the Aero Club of Washington (D.C.) on
Tuesday, Jan. 24, in which he seemed to float the idea once
again.
Secretary Mineta told the audience "I expect that we are going
to see a cost-based plan that creates a more direct relationship
between revenue collected and services provided." Although the
Secretary did not offer specifics of the plan, he noted that it
reflected a "stable and predictable" source of revenue for FAA's
capital improvements.
"While the exact form of the plan was not outlined by the
Secretary, it sure sounded like an oblique reference to user fees,"
said Doug Macnair, EAA's vice president of government relations
(below, right).
"EAA has been loud and
consistent on this point: We are categorically opposed to user fees
for general aviation, especially since the FAA has not shown
effective cost controls or accountability for the capital
improvement programs it wants to undertake."
Because the National Airspace System benefits every citizen of
the national whether they fly or not, Congress has long held that
FAA and the upkeep of the infrastructure should be paid from the
nation's general fund. In addition, general aviation pilots pay a
fuel tax to the Aviation Trust Fund, which is supposedly earmarked
for modernization and infrastructure improvements. However, FAA has
been funding its operations budget from the trust fund, draining it
of the revenue needed for capital improvements and
modernization.
"The major airlines and commercial operators favor user fees
because they hope to offload many of the costs for operations and
services on to general aviation, even though the nation's air
traffic system is truly designed to serve the air carriers, not
general aviation," Macnair said.
"If the FAA operations budget was properly funded from the
general fund as intended, and capital improvements covered by the
Aviation Trust Fund, the issue would be resolved."
In addition, Macnair expressed concern when Mineta (pictured
below) spoke of the progress within DOT's Next Generation
initiative, including a system that would allow federal officials
track all aircraft operations. While Secretary Mineta again did not
mention specifics of the plan, the so-called NextGen program has
the potential to burden aircraft owners and pilots with expensive
mandatory equipment requirements and/or regulations.
"It is ironic that such a proposal, which could add considerable
cost and complexity for GA pilots, could be brought forward while
FAA and DOT have promoted the new sport pilot/light sport aircraft
rule as an economical way to fly," Macnair said.
"The general aviation community must have a voice regarding such
a plan, because it will be the individual pilot and aircraft owner
who will be directly affected, and older non-electrically equipped
aircraft potentially barred from the nation's airspace. This
prospect is patently unacceptable to EAA."
EAA will continue to engage with federal and elected officials,
and ardently defend its members against burdensome costs or
regulations.