|
United States Pilots Association |
With the fight against user fees continuing, Cessna CEO Jack Pelton has some very good points to make recently when he spoke to the Washington, D.C. Aero Club. He said arguments to impose user fees are based on five myths. 1. That the current FAA funding mechanism is not working. 2. That an overhaul is needed to pay for modernization of the airspace system. 3. That GA doesn’t pay its fair share. 4. That user fees would provide stable funding. 5. That the coming fleet (if it does materialize) of very light jets will place added burdens on the aviation infrastructure.
Also, AOPA President Phil Boyer said last week that what the FAA is really after is to get out from under the control of Congress. He said the FAA’s complaint about diminishing funds is “just total fiction.” “The fact is that they’ve continued to get increases from Congress every single year, the trust fund is not diminishing by the administration’s own numbers, and by 2011, just five years, it will be at something like $10 billion. So the FAA is looking for a way to get out from under Congress’ control, and … that’s the last thing we want—an out-of-control FAA.”
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association