General Aviation Unfairly Overlooked
Editor's Note: On Tuesday, we put out the call
for several aero-organizations to weigh in on President Bush's
fiscal year 2007 budget -- specifically, in how it relates to the
FAA and aviation interests as a whole. Today, we present the
National Air Transportation Association's response, unedited
(except for highlighted portions of interest, in bold
type) below.
Stay tuned to ANN as we present more views on what the 2007
budget holds for the world of aviation.
National Air Transportation Association (NATA) President James
K. Coyne called the FY 2007 budget released earlier this week by
the White House a poorly timed retreat from the nation's
responsibilities to aviation at a time when the air transportation
industry needs to advance most.
The President's budget would fund the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) at a level of $13.7 billion for the year,
down from $14.3 billion approved by Congress last
year. Both the Facilities and Equipment and Research and
Development accounts would experience cuts in funding.
"We are disappointed
that the President's budget has wrongly shortchanged America's air
transportation system," Coyne said. "To curb aviation spending at a
time when more people than ever are returning to the skies and
aviation trust fund balances are sharply rising will slow national
economic growth, particularly in rural America. To increase
economic activity and further improve the quality of life in our
nation, it is imperative that Congress fully fund the FAA's
Facilities and Equipment and Research and Development budgets so
the FAA can plan for the future of American air transportation.
There are sufficient funds from the aviation trust fund to
accomplish this goal.
Among the programs hit the hardest is the Airport Improvement
Program, which would be funded at a level of $2.75 billion
for the year, compared to $3.5 billion approved by
Congress last year, and $3.7 billion congressionally authorized for
FY07. The proposed budget would have a disproportionate
effect on general aviation businesses and pilots. Many of the cuts,
including a complete elimination of the Small Community Air
Service Program, will stifle air service to rural America,
where air transportation is the most efficient means of travel.
"The FAA must look to improving the nation's aviation
infrastructure at all facilities, including small communities where
general aviation plays a critical role," said Coyne.
NATA also is wary of any attempt to impose a user fee
system on the aviation industry. Although the President's
budget does not call for the implementation of any FAA user
fees in FY07, the Administration has left the door open
for the introduction of fees in the future.
The budget released by the White House proposes to
remove the protection against aviation user fees included in the
FY06 Transportation Appropriations bill signed into law
last fall. Additionally, at a briefing discussing the Department of
Transportation"s FY07 budget on Monday, Transportation Secretary
Norman Y. Mineta reiterated the Administration's position that a
new funding structure is needed and that the current system of
excise taxes based on ticket prices would need to be restructured.
Mineta said that the department would release the new proposal
sometime this spring.
"NATA will vigorously oppose any FAA funding proposal that
relies on user fees and the association will fight such a proposal
on Capitol Hill. User fees are the wrong way to raise revenues to
fund the air traffic control system and have the potential to wreak
havoc on the general aviation industry, resulting in fewer
Americans flying," Coyne (above) said.
The budget does reverse a negative trend that has developed over
the last few budget cycles. The President's FY07 budget
funds a substantial portion of the $8.336 billion provided for FAA
operations from the general fund instead of relying completely on
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. The budget proposes
$2.9 billion, approximately 35 percent, of the operations budget to
come from the general fund.
"I am pleased to see the President has recognized the value of a
healthy contribution from the general fund for FAA operations. The
national air transportation system provides invaluable benefits to
all Americans, not just air passengers, and is the lifeblood of our
nation"s economy. It is important that a significant part of the
FAA be funded through the general fund," Coyne said.
"As the budget process now begins in earnest, we will work with
the Congress to help restore the funds that are being denied to
vital infrastructure improvements," Coyne concluded.