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United States Pilots Association |
Summer has gone and so apparently have most of the Flight Service Stations. Lockheed Martin has taken over the operation of this very important function, and to be honest, I have not noticed any deterioration in service. When calling for a briefing, I get Albuquerque instead of San Angelo, but the information is well presented, and thus far there has been no appreciable wait to speak to a briefer. If any of you are having difficulty in getting briefings or filing or closing flight plans, please let me know.
Next we come to “User Fees.” Ms. Blakey continues to pound the drum saying the FAA needs a more fair and equitable means to fund itself. Read that as a series of assessments to small aircraft which would only add to the FAA staffing and would not do anything to improve the feds heretofore ignoring of GA needs. As long as there are politicians that will use GA as a whipping boy, and as long as the airlines continue to bleed monies due to poor management and high fuel price,s we can expect no consideration from the FAA. Lets face facts. The airlines control a much larger lobby than we do. When I see airline ticket sales at $29.00 one way, I know that sanity is not one of their strong suits. We need to write to our federal elected officials protesting any imposition of user fees.
Next on the menu is the proposed Permanent Washington, DC, ADIZ. This idea comes solely from the inconvenience that two pilots caused to our government officials (the evacuation) by flying into the DC area with a Cessna 152. This is more of that "Feel Good Mentality" put forth by the Department of Homeland Security. It makes me think that our politicians are on a steady diet of Peyote. The attacks of 9/11 were performed by idiots using airliners as guided bombs. Does anyone seriously think that a Cessna 152 could be used in the same manner?
While we are on the subject,t why are airliners not restricted from landing and taking off from Washington, DC? Logic says if these were used before why would you want to give the enemy another chance? The politicians answer is to ban small GA aircraft from the area, and force business jets etc. to land at a predesignated airport outside the ADIZ, subject their aircraft to TSA inspection, and then board and carry a sky marshall into Washington. Personally, until they move the Smithsonian to the Grand Canyon, I will stay out of the Washington, DC, area.
Finally is the issue of fuel prices. Forty miles east of where I live is a FINA refinery that makes avgas (100LL). Before hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, the price of avgas began to jump. When I took an Angel Flight mission to San Antonio, I was given a fuel price of $5.52 per gallon after a $.50c per gallon discount for AF. I am here to tell you this is /was the same fuel that sat in tanks and is still sitting in tanks-- refined well before the hurricane. It is pure gouging of the aviating public and is already having repercussions in the industry.
The price of 260-325hp used single engine airplanes is dropping like a stone. Those owners who were counting on selling their aircraft for prior market prices need to re-look at the situation. Think of it this way. The major truck and SUV manufacturers (Ford, GM, Chrysler) all came out with "You pay what we pay" pricing on new vehicles. Their profits have fallen dramatically as they sold off inventory. When you could buy a new Dodge or Ford quad cab pickup for about $21,000 new, imagine what it does to the used vehicle price. The same will apply in aviation as manufacturers like Cessna try to recoup cash from the sale of existing inventory.
I have several suggestions to offer regarding the spike in fuel costs. First, fly smart. Get on Air Nav.com and seek out the least expensive fuel stops along your planned route of flight. Throttle back to 65% power to conserve fuel. Most important, if the flight is not critical, don't go, or if you must go, consider driving. Finally, avoid those high priced FBOs on the big airports that pay a "flowage" fee to the city, county, or airport authority. Read that one as a TAX added on to the fuel price. Seek out the less expensive fuel stops. When the higher priced fuel sits in the FBO’s tanks and trucks unsold, the price will come down.
We can all do our part to voice our opposition to any or all of the above issues. Don't just sit on your behinds waiting for AOPA or EAA, etc., to do the job for us. Take the time and write your congressman and explain your position. We are still a representative democracy. If they don't represent us, then fire them at the next election.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association