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.