Fees Would Help Pay For Airport Maintenance In The State

A proposal to require registration of aircraft in the state of Alaska is being opposed by two members of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly who object to the agency's assertion that it needs to record aircraft registration data.

The resolution was introduced by Assemblymen Aaron Lojewski and Lance Roberts. It states that "There is considerable doubt as to the department’s statutory authority to implement a state aircraft registration system” and that “the department can comply with FAA’s requests for aircraft basing data without establishing a state aircraft registration system.”

The Alaska DOT says that the registration was proposed to bring the state into compliance with FAA regulations on aircraft data, and that its associated feels will help defray the cost of maintenance at the state's 240 airports, according to a report from the News Miner newspaper. Of the anticipated $1.2 to $1.5 million in fees, all but about $52,000 would be collected from the registration of non-commercial aircraft.

The resolution states that the FAA already has a system for aircraft registration. A separate Alaska law prohibits duplication by the state of information already collected by the federal government.

The resolution also says that the fees are an "unnecessary inconvenience and expense on those residents."

The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the resolution on Thursday.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report