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United States Pilots Association |
I Have a prediction. It is my strong belief that user fees will be defeated in this Congress when the FAA appropriations bill comes up for a full floor debate. This bill is so onerous that even a blind man can see the fallacy in trying to implement such a despicable fraud on the American aviating public. I could spend days rebutting the various arguments put forth by Marion Blakey and her goose stepping minions.
There is another point I wish to make. USPA has from the very beginning advocated the contacting of our federal Legislators (Congressmen/Women and Senators), explaining in great detail the flaws in this plan. I personally have spoken to four Congressmen, plus written to many more. I have prompted my city and county government officials to write protesting this bill. It is because USPA is a non-profit organization and without sources to obtain large amounts of money to fund a campaign to defeat this bill that our energy was devoted to encouraging people to lobby their Legislators, etc. Now comes AOPA belittling our efforts by stating in AOPA Pilot magazine in the May issue that they have a better plan. They are asking their members (yes, I am one, too), to record any answers the individuals receive to protest letters sent. AOPA will then work diligently to defeat those elected officials who do not stand on the side of general aviation. They also state that instead of just writing to your elected officials, they are going to actively go after those who do not support their point of view.
Next comes a large postcard from AOPA requesting more financial help to defeat this bill. I took great note that the card was franked as a non-profit organization which, of course, AOPA is not. We are a legitimate 501-C-3 organization and are legally not permitted to participate in election campaigns. AOPA is a FOR PROFIT organization that in addition to dues, extracts huge sums of monies every year from their members. They remind me of the NRA and the President's Election Committee the way they continually send out requests for money. Frankly, I am tired of these large organizations cuddling up with the Marion Blakeys of this world in an attempt to win favor and influence decisions.
We all know that the more aviation organizations we belong to, the better chance we have to project our voices to the government. Just because Phil Boyer puts Marion Blakey on his stage each year at AOPA EXPO does not mean that he has any more influence over her actions than do you or I. This is fraternizing with the enemy from my perspective. Those of us who are also members of AOPA need to write to Mr. Boyer and tell him that he works for us, not Ms. Blakey.
You can be sure that Phil will take all of the credit when this bill is defeated. My take on the whole issue is he should tell Ms. Blakey that GA will not be put into the closet so the airlines can muck up more of the ATC system than they presently do and get paid by the government while they are doing it.
I firmly believe that AOPA has lost its stated goal in life to represent general aviation exclusively. Sorry to say this, but they have become just another good old boys club seeking to feather their own nest at the expense of their membership. It is probably time for Phil to move on to other ventures and let AOPA get back to its roots. 410,000 pilots are going to be very angry at AOPA if they let user fees become another Meigs Field debacle.
This is my opinion, and I speak only for myself.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association