USPA News

USPA PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON USER FEES

USER FEES---WHY?

All of the current problems affecting General Aviation pale in comparison to
the possibility of the imposition of user fees to small plane operators.

Presently all of aviation is taxed when fuel is purchased, and the proceeds
of those taxes are deposited into the aviation trust fund. The fund is
supposed to pay for the expenses of the FAA and airport improvements. Thus
far this year we have seen the flight service stations emasculated and the
whole concept of preflight briefings etc., outsourced to Lockheed Martin.
This is supposed to save a huge amount of money. My opinion is that within
three years after this program is in effect Lockheed will be back to the
well demanding more money. The alternative is less services or possibly user
fees.

Every report I have read recently states that within the next few
years the airlines will be moving over one billion people per year. The
current level is around six to seven hundred million. To move that many more
people the airlines will have to put more planes into the air and/or utilize
larger aircraft. Each one of those planes will be using FSS and Centers.

Does anyone realistically think that general aviation adding some 2000
aircraft annually to the overall fleet while subtracting the wrecks and the
unloved will have any where near that kind of growth? I think not. Yet, we
have airlines complaining that we are not paying our fair share. My opinion
is the FAA is riddled with mid to high level incompetant managers that are
only concerned with their survival. Perhaps the whole FAA should be
privatized with a fixed budget. Exceed your spending limit and be fired.

If anyone doubts the ability of the government to waste tax money, simply look
at the TSA. Bobby pins and nail files are confiscated from elderly ladies
while our southern borders are wide open to all who come. What is wrong with
profiling? Look for those who we know are out to do us harm. We are spending
billions to fund the confiscation of cigarette lighters and aforesaid nail
files, but we cannot continue the funding of the working folks at the FAA.

I see AOPA and the NBAA running to meetings opposing user fees to bail out the
FAA. What is needed is a combined campaign by all in aviation to kill this
idea before it begins to develop traction.

Steve Uslan,President,USPA

Posted by Jan at May 4, 2005 07:56 AM