USPA Legislation Reports

February 2005 Legislation Report

GREETINGS! First, Here’s an update from Washington, D.C. The Bush Administration on Monday, February 7, 2005 released its $13.8 billion FAA budget proposal for the next fiscal year, down 1.27 percent from last year. Cuts affecting General Aviation include $600 million lost by the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

 

The FAA’s research and development budget would be cut 13 percent, which could affect ongoing work to find a replacement for leaded aviation gasoline and develop associated engine technology. The facilities budget would be cut 3 percent, giving the FAA less to work with to maintain and modernize its equipment.

Secondly, The FAA budget request also includes $24.9 million to hire 595 additional air traffic controllers as part of a multi-year plan to address anticipated controller retirements. The Budget in Brief, which summarizes the President’s budget request for the U.S. Department of Transportation, is available on the Internet at www.dot.gov.

 

Thirdly, FAA officials have asked leaders from the bizav community to attend a meeting on February 18^TH, in Washington, D.C., to address safety issues. A recent rash of General Aviation accidents involving charter flight from bizjets has raised questions in the mainstream media about the safety of the sector, but the FAA has said this meeting is not in response to that but is part of a continuing review of the industry as a whole. The purpose of the meeting is to exchange ideas, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown told USA Today. “If there are safety programs or best practices that some of the operators are using that they can share with the rest of the community, then we’d like to make that available to everybody,” she said. Expected at the meeting are representatives from NBAA, the National Air Transportation Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the NTSB, and others.

 

Fourthly, Here’s an update concerning Missouri aviation. The only Airports and Aviation Bills are as follows:

 

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session (2005)
Bills Indexed by Subject
AIRCRAFT AND AIRPORTS

 HB 38 --- Sponsor: Jackson, Jack

Authorizes an income tax designation to the Airborne Law Enforcement Fund

HB 306 --- Sponsor: Dempsey, Tom

Extends the expiration of the aviation jet fuel sales and use tax exemption

SB 169 --- Sponsor: Gross, Charles

Renews aviation sales tax until 2010 and technical addition to title section 305.230.

Last Updated February 10, 2005 at 4:25 pm _

 

Now, In conclusion, remember, we as USPA, MPA, EAA, AOPA, or any other state pilot association of which you may be a member, all have a powerful voice, be it here in Missouri, Indiana, Texas, or whatever state you may represent. Every Group of taxpayers, and pilots carries a strong voice to Washington, D.C. and on the state and local government level.

So Let’s not forget to exercise our rights and privileges, so we can continue to make a “Difference for General Aviation.”

UNTIL NEXT TIME!

 

SAFE FLYING!

 

Larry G. Harmon

Vice President

Government & Technical Affairs

United States Pilots Association

E-mail: USPAVPLHARMON228@aol.com