The hits just keep on coming... as the aviation world responds to the appearent attack foisted upon it by the president's newest budget submission.

GAMA, for instance, tells ANN that despite projections of record aviation trust fund revenues generated by a sound system of aviation excise taxes, the Bush Administration has released a fiscal year 2008 federal budget that scraps the current funding mechanism for one that would impose a "user fee” regime. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) issued the following statement regarding the release of the budget:

"With this proposal, the Bush Administration opened a 'Pandora's Box' of user fees which I can only hope Congress will be able to slam shut," said GAMA's President and CEO, Pete Bunce.

"GAMA is categorically opposed to user fees of any type and on any segment of the aviation community. We look forward to working with Congress to defeat this ill-advised proposal.”

GAMA is an international trade association headquartered in Washington, DC representing over 50 of the world's leading manufacturers of general aviation aircraft, engines, avionics and related equipment. GAMA's members also operate fleets of aircraft, fixed based operations, and pilot training and maintenance training facilities.

FMI: www.GAMA.aero