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United States Pilots Association |
Last week President Bush sent his proposed budget to the Congress to be voted on during March of 2007. Included in the budget was a substantial drop in required funding of the FAA for airport improvements and a complete revamping of the Air Traffic Control System. The reduction in funding is to be offset by the imposition of user fees to be collected by a new entity which in all probability will be an offshoot of the legacy airlines. I am not surprised, as the signs of what was coming were there for all to see. I had reserved comments until I saw what everyone else had to say on the issue. We are all diametrically opposed to user fees in any form. We do not want the airlines to have control of the skies and the major airports. We can do without the administration's talking head, Marion Blakey, or for that matter any one else that pops up telling us what a great idea this is. There are many people on both sides of the aisle in Congress who are very uncomfortable with the idea of user fees.
USPA is a relatively small organization. And when an issue such as this appears, we need to be heard. My suggestion is to get on to NBAA.com and follow the prompts to protest these fees. NBAA will send your comments directly to Congress where you can be assured they will be heard. Do not depend on AOPA, NATA, NBAA, or any other organization to carry our water on this issue. Contact your Congress person or Senator or all, and in your own words let them know our displeasure with this onerous idea. I for one do not want to pay increased fuel taxes, landing fees, communications fees, etc. because Mr. Bush wants to show the country he is now a fiscal conservative.
General Aviation is in a boom period right now. Cessna and Cirrus both delivered a record number of aircraft last year and Cessna is sold out on their 2007 production already. Nothing will kill GA faster than the imposition of these fees and the appointment of the airlines to run the ATC system.
You can join in the battle or stand on the sidelines. Regardless of the outcome, if you do not participate in the debate, and we have user fees imposed, then you have nobody to blame but yourself. I strongly suggest you have your service organizations like Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimists, and the like become informed on the issue and get them to speak out as well. If you have access to the print or broadcast media, get to them as well. Shine the light of truth on this issue, and quite possibly we can defeat it once and for all.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association