Issue: Aircraft Registration Tax

Ohio flyers say it's just not fair -- a clause in the state's 2004-2005 General Revenue Budget Bill (HB 95) passed last year by the Ohio 125th General Assembly. The bill changed the Ohio state aircraft registration license tax to $100.00 dollars per aircraft, regardless of the plane's size. Prior to this bill aircraft registration was based on a per-seat fee of $3.00.

Several EAA members in the state voiced their concern that a small single seat aircraft like an Preceptor N-3 Pup, a Rans S-14 Airaile, a Mooney Mite or a Pitts Special would pay the same registration fee as a 18 seat Gulfstream G550. EAA agrees that the fee modification is not equitable.

After talks between the Ohio DOT and EAA members in the state, that alternate language has now been submitted to the Ohio legislature. It would change the appropriate section of the budget bill. Such a change would create what EAA lobbyists say is a more equitable registration fee of $15.00 per-seat.

Here's the rub: The EAA says the new language hasn't made it into the Capital Bill (the legislative tool for making this type of technical change). The reason? Lack of support.

So now, the EAA wants members to call or e-mail local state representatives and ask them to support the state DOT Aviation departments request to add to the Capitol Bill the Section 4561.18 change which would modify the aircraft registration fee from $100 per aircraft to $15.00 per-seat.

FMI: www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/SearchbyName.jsp