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United States Pilots Association |
This letter is in answer to your recent column regarding the air traffic control funding debate. I would like to set the issue out there for all to see and understand.
The FAA under current Administrator Marion Blakey has set out on a course to "Outsource" it's services to private companies. We have been told this is being done to save money and to improve service. It has thus far done neither. Lockheed Martin was given the "sweetheart contract" and has been fined millions of dollars at least once for rendering poor service. That has not stopped them from coming back and asking for much more money to help overcome some of their deficiencies.
Now Ms. Blakey wants to outsource the management of the Air Traffic Control System to the airlines. Her claim is the current method of funding will not pay for the costs of hiring controllers and reengineering the "new generation" of equipment she says is necessary to upgrade the present system.
In addition, it is proposed the airlines will receive a cumulative One Billion dollar tax break, with this money ostensibly to be paid from fees assessed on flights of small aircraft.
Let us look at the airlines. They schedule more flights from a hub airport at the same time than the airport can handle. They encounter weather delays that imprison passengers for hours at a time in planes with no food and poor restroom facilities. Baggage is lost routinely. We are herded like cattle through the TSA lines in the expectation we are receiving security. What we are receiving is another huge boondoggle set up after 9/11. We are then shoehorned into aircraft seats barely wide enough for a ten year old child, and we receive peanuts and soft drinks.
The answer here is do not change the FAA funding system. Instead, add more runways at major airports. Force the airlines to offer more realistic scheduling to provide spacing between arriving and departing flights.
We who have taken the trouble to learn to fly and who own small airplanes are not the problem. Most of us will avoid the airline hub airports, not wishing to be sequenced between two airliners.
The problem is the market has created an alternative to the airlines. It is called the VLJ or very light jet. These six seat airplanes can fly from most any airport, at a time convenient to their passenger's requirements. They are relatively inexpensive, and hundreds if not thousands have been ordered. This is what the airlines are afraid of. These planes will siphon off the business traveler who is tired of dealing with the aforementioned inconveniences. They burn far less fuel and travel at almost the same speed as the airliners.
Do not be fooled by the naysayers who wish to add additional expense (taxes and fees) to small planes. We pay every time we buy fuel. The tax monies generated by our fuel taxes has helped fund the FAA for many years, and the fund has never been in trouble.
This issue is not about percentages of usage of the air traffic control system. It is about more subsidies to an industry that cannot get its act together, coupled with a government trying to further bail the airlines out of future bankruptcy. When the retiring President of America West Airlines can receive a $300,000,000 bonus while the rest of us eat peanuts, this should tell the whole story.
Stephen D. Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
Several days ago I put out a news release asking all to help send Marion Blakey to the showers in disgrace after User Fees lose in the Congress. I made reference to these incompetant individuals (men or women) who are appointed to be the FAA Administrator.
Now hear this. Marion Blakey has been named as the President and CEO of Aerospace Industries Association effective November 12th. Her last day at the FAA will be September 13th. My source feels her new gig is probably an interim position until an airline management position opens up.
Oh yes, I would not get too concerned (tongue in cheek) about the newly designated successor to Ms. Blakey. Ms. Barrett from Arizona is married to a high executive in Intel Corporation. Intel is where the FAA buys their processors for their computers. It is also reported she is on the Board of Directors for Raytheon Corporation, the parent company of Beechcraft, and who coincidentally is one of the FAA's largest contractors.
At the risk of sounding like talk show host Michael Savage, I hereby predict many more years of outsourcing, favoritism to the airlines, and cozying up to Phil Boyer from AOPA. This scenario just never changes.
My opinion is we should bombard our Senators and Congresspeople with protests against the ratification of this appointment. For once lets get out ahead of the problem. We do not need four more years of being the patsy for the airlines.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
The FAA has issued a TFR NOTAM for President Bush's planned overnight visit to Kansas City from Tuesday, August 21, through Wednesday, August 22.
Centered on the MCI VOR's 145-degree radial at 14.6 miles, and extending to FL 180, it will be in effect from 8:15 p.m. CDT on Tuesday until 1:30 p.m. CDT on Wednesday. There will also be additional no-fly zones.
Be sure to call FSS before flying in the Kansas City area Tuesday and Wednesday.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Saturday, August 18, USPA presented an FAA Safety Seminar at Haps Aerial Enterprises, Inc., on the Sellersburg, IN, Airport, (Clark County KJVY). Arranged by VP for Legislation Larry Harmon, the seminar was conducted by Larry and USPA President Steve Uslan, with a membership presentation by VP Membership Duane Smith. Also assisting in setting up the refreshments, etc. was Committee Chairman Kay Smith, Past President Paul Hough, and Executive Director Jan Hoynacki.
Although not all who signed up on the FAA website attended, there was a respectable turnout with lively communication. USPA provided refreshments and door prizes and much information on USPA.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The most recent edition of ipilot.com tells of the imminent closure of numerous NDB, ILS, and VOR/DME approaches around the country by the FAA. Five years ago the same tactic was tried and defeated with the help of USPA's intervention. Now we have another pilot organization supporting these closures. It sounds to me just like the "Immigration Reform" bill that was just defeated because every Senator and Congressman/woman was made aware by their constituents of their overwhelming disapproval of that bill. So, of course, after the bill was defeated, Congress tried to come back and piecemeal amnesty for certain trades. It, too, lost.
Remember the cries of outrage earlier this summer when the state department of Homeland Security mandated passports for everyone flying or boating into our country. The only problem was the government could not get the passports issued in a timely fashion. Now we have a good idea why. The names of those who applied for passports was run through a national data base to find out who owed child support payments. They did not get their passports until they paid up. Now I have no problem with making these deadbeats pay up. I have a major problem with using the federal government to do this. What's next? Does somebody who owes a traffic fine get rejected until he pays? What about parking tickets? Did you know in the City of El Paso, TX, over 20% of the entire population have warrants out for their arrest because of overdue traffic fines?
I for one am sick and tired of the political correctness being forced down our throats. Let your elected officials know that as we put them into their jobs, we can vote them out just as easily.
One more item. When Marion Blakey departs the pattern in September, we are going to get yet another woman who is not a pilot, does not understand the problems we face, and will probably continue down the same road as her two previous administrators. God help us all.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
Today is the deadline to make your hotel reservation in Santa Fe, NM, for the USPA meeting and/or NMPA mountain flying course. Call the Holiday Inn Santa Fe at 505 473-4646 to reserve your room by 3:00 p.m.!!!!!! This rate is about half what you will pay if you don't make your reservations NOW!!!!!! USPA VP Bob Worthington negotiated a fantastic room rate. Don't let this opportunity slip by. Call now.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Here is an update on the status of the New Orleans Lakefront Airport inoperative ILS. A source in the FAA whose information I trust has advised that construction is scheduled to begin soon on the replacement of the ILS and other lighted navaids at Lakefront Airport. The expected charting date for the ILS is April 2008. I am also given to understand that a temporary Air Traffic Control Tower will soon be in operation.
Here is an excellent example of what we can achieve simply by shining the light of day on a festering problem. This airport has been without these services since Hurricane Katrina struck.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
If you're interested in the Santa Fe Mountain Flying Clinic conducted by the New Mexico Pilots Association September 14-16, you had better register for it right away. It's half full, per USPA VP Bob Worthington.
For more information on this great opportunity to fly with local experts in some of the most beautiful mountain country in the US, go to www.uspilots.org.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Just a reminder. The deadline for reserving your room in Santa Fe at the special USPA rate is August 13 before 3:00 p.m. Reserve your room now. For details go to www.uspilots.org.
See you in Santa Fe!
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association