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United States Pilots Association |
This was taken from the AVweb site on May 15, 2007. Headline: Lockheed Martin wants more FSS money. It seems the big savings we were all promised would occur when the FAA outsourced the Flight Service Stations to Lockheed Martin probably will not be as big after all. By my memory this is the second time LM has gone back to the well, this time for an additional $177 Million. The original contract as awarded was worth over $1.8 Billion. These sums do not include the monitoring of uncontrolled airport ILS systems which the "FAA conveniently forgot to insert in the original contract." Meanwhile the Inspector General's office of the Federal DOT has fined LM $9,000,000 for failure to live up to service and performance guarantees. Then we have the problem in Washington, DC, where filed flight plans are being "dropped" for no explainable reason while at the same time briefers in other states like California do not know the procedures for operating in the Washington, DC, ADIZ. A report is forthcoming from the OIG's office for release later this month.
The revised bill as of Tuesday, May 15, to fund the FAA in fiscal year 2008 has exempted piston powered aircraft from the onerous $25 proposed user fee to apply every time the plane flew. Unfortunately the $25 fee remains for turboprop and pure turbine aircraft. An amendment was introduced yesterday (May 14) to exclude all user fees. We will keep you advised as to the outcome of this amendment.
To illustrate how unfair this proposed system would be, imagine this scenario. An E-90 King Air takes off with four passengers on a 500 mile flight between two uncontrolled airports. At the same time, a Boeing 737 takes off from DFW enroute to ORD in Chicago carrying 124 passengers. Both planes would have to pay the $25 fee. Where is the fairness here? Under the proposed legislation the King Air would have to pay an additional $.50 a gallon in fuel taxes (fees) while the airlines would get a reduction in fuel taxes. There simply is no way the general aviation community will assume the tax responsibility of the airlines because the government wants to give these same airlines a $1.9 billion tax break. I have said before that the airlines need to clean their own house before trying to invade mine looking for more money.
Let's talk about what the airlines do not do. They do not go in to 97% of the airports in this country. They will not offer seats to indigent folks needing medical care in a city far from where they live. Many will no longer transport pets, even in the cargo holds. Food is no longer served routinely on long flights. Service is atrocious. People are literally imprisoned in airliners for hours at a time with no food and limited restroom facilities when a weather delay is encountered. They currently charge for everything. Some will charge for a pillow or blanket. Just look at the recently released report of the "worst" airlines from a service perspective and leading the list is United Airlines. United has just purchased a minority ownership in Aloha Airlines--one of the best service providers in the business. United got a seat on Aloha's board of directors. How soon will the United beancounters begin to insert their "reforms" into Aloha operating policies? One can only wonder.
Finally, a word of caution to my fellow piston aircraft pilots. Even if the exemption for the $25 fee and possibly the elimination (for now) of the increased fuel tax occurs, it will only be a matter of time before the camel's nose under the tent becomes the whole camel. The FAA has already acknowledged that the original bill as proposed would result in a huge shortfall of revenue ostensibly needed to fund the FAA. How soon do you think it will be before they eliminate the exemptions for small planes?
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association