"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. 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."
Source: Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens. The
senator -- who serves as vice chairman of the Senate Commerce,
Science and Transportation Committee, and cast the tie-breaking
vote in favor of legislation to tack a proposed $25 per flight
surcharge on general aviation aircraft throughout the United States
-- also tucked a fee exe