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United States Pilots Association |
USPA's Legislative V.P. Larry Harmon reports the following. I will let you draw your own conclusions.
"A proposal under discussion in the Bush White House would allow the FAA to issue bonds that it would pay back by charging USER FEES. Administration officials have been consulting with Wall Street Investment banks for advice on how to proceed with the bond sales, The Wall Street Journal said. The Journal took another look at the privatization of the air traffic control system."
In other words, the government would issue bonds (debt) to fund the FAA operations and then charge you and I USER FEES to pay back the debt. What happens if you and I choose to fly outside the ATC system and not use their services? Who pays then? This is just another way to relieve the airlines of some expense while shifting the load to general aviation.
Think of it this way. Theoretically the mega millions of dollars being given to the Kingdom of Chicago to improve O'Hare International Airport would come from the USER FEES imposed upon you and I if this proposal goes forward.
You must write your elected officials and condemn this proposal, as well as any user fee imposition. If you depend on the aviation organizations like USPA, AOPA, EAA etc., you may wake up one morning owning a high-powered weathervane that you can mount on a pole. You will not want to fly having to pay these fees.
Finally, I say to those naysayers who think this will not happen, wake up and smell the roses. It is happening. Read the USPA releases concerning the 1000% increase proposed in Canada for user fees. Take a look in Europe and see and understand why general aviation is almost dead over there. It can happen here and will happen here unless you and I do something to stop it.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association