GREETINGS! First, Here’s an update from Washington, D.C. The FAA’s
Contract Tower Program, under the omnibus-spending bill, receives $86
million for the fully funded contract towers and $7 million for the
cost-share program.
FAA funds repairs at 12 additional airports damaged by hurricanes
Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne via a portion of the remaining $4.5
million from emergency legislation that provided a total of $25 million
to help pay for hurricane damage to airports. The remaining $4.5 million
will be distributed to airports in Alabama, Florida, and Puerto Rico. In
October, FAA provided $20.5 million to 71 hurricane-damaged
airports.
Secondly, General Aviation has never been safer, and accident statistics
for 2004 prove it. Last year saw the fewest General Aviation
accidents since record keeping began in 1938 and the lowest number of
fatal accidents since 1945, according to preliminary data from the
NTSB. The total number of General Aviation accidents dropped 8.4
percent compared to 2003, while the number of fatal accidents
declined 11.7 percent and fatal instructional accidents down 50
percent. (There are very few fatal instructional accidents in any year.
Last year there were 17.)
Thirdly, Office of Management & Budget completes its review of proposed
changes to DOT regulation Part 375, which regulates the operation
of foreign civil aircraft owned, controlled, or operated by persons who are not
citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. Part 375 changes would expand
the provisions of Part 91, Subpart F to some private, foreign aircraft
registered in the United States.
Fourthly, Here’s an update concerning Missouri aviation. The only
Airports and Aviation Bills are as follows:
HB 38 --- Sponsor:
Jackson, Jack
Authorizes an income tax designation to the Airborne Law Enforcement Fund
HB 306 --- Sponsor:
Dempsey, Tom
Extends the expiration of the aviation jet fuel sales and use tax exemption
HB 713 --- Sponsor:
Cooper, Nathan D.
Extends sunset of transfer of jet fuel tax to the aviation trust fund and
increases air control tower funding.
SB 169 --- Sponsor:
Gross, Charles
Renews aviation sales tax until 2010 and technical addition to title section
305.230.
SB 396 --- Sponsor:
Crowell, Jason
Extends sunset of transfer of jet fuel tax to the aviation trust fund and
increases air control tower funding.
SB 498 --- Sponsor:
Mayer, Robert
Amends sales and use tax exemption for aircraft sales to not-for-profit
organizations.
Last Updated March 8, 2005 at 5:45 pm _
Now, In conclusion, remember, we as USPA, MPA, EAA, AOPA, or any other state
pilot association of which you may be a member, all have a power voice, be it
here in Missouri, Indiana, Texas, or whatever state you may represent. Every
Group of taxpayers, and pilots carries a strong voice to Washington, D.C. and on
the state and local government level.
So Let’s not forget to exercise our rights, and privileges, so we can continue
to make a “Difference for General Aviation.”
UNTIL NEXT TIME!
SAFE FLYING!
Larry G. Harmon
Vice President
Government & Technical Affairs
United States Pilots Association
E-mail: USPAVPLHARMON@aol.com
Posted by JC at March 10, 2005 09:21 AM