Obama's Willingness to Sacrifice Aviation Interests Continues

Here we go again! You're going to hear a lot about this in the next few days, but it appears that the White House has included aviation user fees for general aviation use of air traffic control services in President Obama's fiscal year 2015 spending proposal.

The budget proposal states that its purpose is: “To more equitably distribute the cost of air traffic services across the aviation user community, the Administration proposes to establish a new surcharge for air traffic services of $100 per flight. Military aircraft, public aircraft, piston aircraft, air ambulances, aircraft operating outside of controlled airspace, and Canada-to- Canada flights would be exempt.”

Once again, the White House continues to set aside the reality that the general aviation community already pays for its use of air traffic services through the proven and efficient fuel tax. Clearly, General aviation turbine powered aircraft are being singled out for this fee.

Ed Bolen, NBAA President and CEO said, “NBAA will continue to work to defeat user fees and support the aviation fuel tax mechanism as the most effective way for us to contribute to the system.”

Congressional lawmakers have opposed user fees like those suggested by the president in previous annual spending proposals. Most recently – in anticipation of the release of the president’s budget today – four key congressmen sent a letter to again ask the president to refrain from seeking the new fees.

The letter was welcomed by a number of aviation stakeholders, but it remains uncertain as to its effect in influencing a White House that has been willing to work well outside of Congress to enforce its wishes.

 FMI: www.whitehouse.gov