General aviation survives another day!

Congress has come up with an FAA reauthorization bill that raises the fuel tax but includes no user fees.  A propses $25 per flight user fee for turbine aircraft is also on the table.

Let’s celebrate by going flying.

But, argh, fuel prices are going through the sky!

If you’re wondering where your airline ticket money is going these days, look towards Congress.  The airlines are spending all those pennies they’re saving by not providing you with a pillow by giving it to Washington.

The Airline Transport Association, the main lobby group for the airlines, spent $2.7 million dollars lobbying Congress in the first half of 2007.

Of course, that main lobby effort has been directed at getting user fees through.

As a loyal and frequent flier of United Airlines, I was disheartened, though not surprised, that United is spreading the user-fee propaganda by emailing its customers directly.  As AOPA repots, this email went out at the end of June and pushed the airlines user-fee arguments.

As AOPA notes, it’s not a good idea to alienate a loyal customer base.  Private pilots tend to fly on commercial airlines too and I have accumulated tens of thousands of frequent flier miles on United.

You can tell UAL’s CEO, Glenn Tilton what you think of his scheme by emailing him at: glenn.tilton@united.com

He’s probably shut it his email down by now, but I’ll try it too.

The thingie about Glenn here, is that this is the same fella who headed United as it went into bankruptcy, then took millions of dollars in stock and salary when United emerged from bankruoptcy.

Only in America- and only with the airlines- can you fail so miserably and become so rich.

-Andrew

The airlines are pushing user fees based on their theory that general aviation is one giant taxpayer subsidy.

The airlines sure know something about subsidies.

According to the New York Times, Congress is looking into the giant pension relief some of the major carriers have received.  The Times reports that American Airlines has received pension breaks totaling $2 billion.  A provision sneaked into the Iraq War funding bill allows American to erase a nearly $2.5 billion shortfall in the funding of its pensions.

Continental will also received some benefits, according to the Times.

The airlines play a critical role in our economy and we need to keep them flying.  However, they speak with a forked-tail when they claim GA receives unfair benefits when, the fact is, their planes would be gathering sand in the desert if Congress didn’t bail them out every few years.

Btw, despite causing one travel nightmare after another this spring, the airlines are poised to have their best quarter financially in years.

-Andrew

With all the reality of Shrek, the ATA has released a down-right goofy ad featuring talking cartoon airplanes.  The ad squarely blames general aviation aircraft for clogging up the skies, cutting takeoff lines, and not paying “their fair share.”

For a good laugh, you can watch the ad here:

(full disclosure: I’m involved in a start-up air taxi service)

Just days after these pages criticized AOPA   (see below) for tacitly supporting a Senate bill that would create user fees for turbine aircraft but let pistons off the hook, AOPA has changed direction. President Phil Boyer sent this letter to Senator John Kerry.

In fact, not only has AOPA toughened its position, it’s as if their original editorial never happened as it’s been removed from their home page.

We took issue with AOPA’s position because it created a potential fracture with other pilot organizations, namely the highly influential NBAA.

-Andrew

 Pilot Group Giving Tacit Support for Senate Bill

While EAA and the NBAA have come out firmly against a Senate bill that would create some user fees for general aviation turbine planes- but exempt pistons- AOPA took a surprising approach that threatens to fracture the unifed front against all user fees. AOPA basically gave the bill’s sponsors a wink and a nod.

The proposed legislation strikes the FAA’s fuel tax hike, fees for Class B airspace, and other costs, but by taxing turbines at all levels it represents that first step towards user fees that AOPA has spent years warning aviators about.

On its website, AOPA president Phil Boyer said “This bill is a lot better than the FAA’s proposed legislation. Our thanks to Senators (David) Rockefeller and (Trent) Lott as they intend to keep piston-powered general aviation taxes right where they are today.”  Boyer did go on to say they have concerns over the fees for turbine aircraft, even those flying under Part 91 operations.

The troublesome part of AOPA’s ‘evolving’ position, is that it does exactly what the FAA wants to accomplish– split the recreational pilot community from that of the professional, charter industry.  If recreational pilots get behind a ‘glass is half full’ measure, the FAA will win some of what it wants and it will forever damage the alliance between  the GA groups.

AOPA may be trying to accomplish a couple of things with its position.  First, it may be buttering up Senators Rockefeller and Lott in the hope of some longer term advantages.  Second, Boyer may feel the user fee battle is lost. And that if it can reshape the argument, AOPA could claim victory with something that, in fact, is short of a victory.  Sort of “peace with honor.”

-Andrew

On one side, the airlines and their hacks.  On the other, everyone else who understands the important role general aviation plays in our economy.

Today, the American Corn Grower’s Association has come out against the FAA’s User-Fee plan, saying it “will be devastating to our rural economy given the vital role general aviation plays in our communities.”

I’m going out to buy some ears of corn tonight!

The House Aviation Sub-Committee estimates that 300 airports will lose Federal grants under the FAA proposal. 

The NBAA, which represents charter and corporate flight operations, has launched a website to advocate against user fees. Check it out at http://web.nbaa.org/public/govt/userfees/ 

Momentum against user fees and the FAA’s proposed funding budget has spurred the creation of  a  new group, the Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA). 

Check out their website here.