NBAA informs ANN that in the Administration's fiscal year 2010 budget, it intends to continue the existing taxes next year, but has previously signaled that they are considering a shift to user fees for 2011.

The plan, released last week, only maps out funding for FY2010, which led NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen (pictured below) to observe: "It's good to see that there are no user fees for general aviation in the Administration's budget plan for 2010. However, we remain concerned that the Administration's long-term planning could leave the door open to user fee proposals for general aviation. This would be a very divisive approach at a time when the industry needs to come together and move forward in making NextGen a reality. We will continue to work with members of Congress and the Administration on a funding plan that builds upon the proven and efficient fuel tax for general aviation."

As regards fuel tax considerations, in testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee on the status of the FAA Aviation Trust Fund, leaders of a separate committee - the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee - urged support for building on the aviation fuel tax for general aviation operators to contribute to FAA funding and aviation system modernization. During testimony, Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN--pictured below), said H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, is in line with that vision, and that "the aviation excise taxes that support the Trust Fund have proven to be a stable and adequate source of funding for aviation programs, without imposing undue administrative burdens on system users."

Other Transportation Committee members also supported the bill.

FMI: www.nbaa.org/advocacy/issues