USPA President Steve Uslan sends us this email from Drew Coats, a partner in Coats & Evans, P.C., a law firm specializing in aviation law, which operates a Piper Aerostar, an Aero Commander Shrike, and a Cessna 172.
As you may know, the FAA has historically been funded by a federal tax on all types of aviation fuels for all types of aircraft, along with a tax on airline tickets. President Bush has proposed scrapping this proven, efficient and equitable means of funding the FAA, and in particular, air traffic control services, and replacing it with a new tax scheme where the airline industry (not Congress) would set taxes for everything from using air traffic control services to getting a student pilot's license, which entirely new bureaucracies would then collect.
Based on the results of similar tax schemes in Canada, Australia and the EU, every industry group in the US, including NBAA, AOPA, EAA, NATA and GAMA, believes this system would all but kill general aviation. Even for users who can afford this radical regressive tax, it will destroy the utility of general aviation by running scores of aviation related small businesses (FBOs, repair shops, parts vendors, flight schools etc.) out of business.
General aviation is vital to our nation's economy. It is also of great importance to me, both personally and professionally. I intend to personally contact as many elected officials as I can to express my concerns about this massive tax increase. I have attached a copy of my draft letter to my elected representatives which explains my views on the subject in greater detail.
If general aviation is important to you and/or your business, I ask you to join me and contact your congressman, US Senators, and any other members of Congress you know. Please ask them to join the bipartisan opposition to so-called aviation "user fees". You may easily locate the contact information for members of Congress here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.house.gov/zip/ZIP2Rep.html
Sincerely,
Drew Coats
Coats & Evans, P.C.
Post Office Box 130246
The Woodlands, Texas 77393
(281) 367-7732
(281) 367-8003 (facsimile)
Coats@TexasAviationLaw.com
www.TexasAviationLaw.com
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Greetings! First, Here’s an update from Washington, D.C. The White house released the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget amid fanfare on Monday morning February 5, 2005, but general aviation groups aren’t jumping for joy. In the DOT budget breakdown, the FAA allotment includes $175 million for a 21st Century satellite navigation system to replace older air traffic control equipment and $900 million in additional air traffic control system upgrades, but it also includes an expected user-fee proposal. “The Bush Administration will transmit a reauthorization proposal in 2007 that transforms the FAA’s excise tax financing system to a cost-based system that recovers most of air traffic services through user fees,” the document states.
Secondly, The National Business Administration Association (NBAA) quickly rapped the Bush Administration for the move: ‘After more than a year of intense lobbying by the nation’s big airlines, the White House has decided to introduce a budget that shifts airline costs to other segments of the industry and gives airlines more control over the air traffic system. NBAA and the rest of the general aviation community will oppose this toxic mix of higher taxes, new fees and airline control. The fact is the current approach to funding and oversight of the aviation system is effective and efficient—there is no need for radical “fixes” like those proposed in this budget.”
Thirdly, Here’s an update concerning Missouri Aviation. The only Airports and Aviation Bills are as follows:
Missouri
House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
(2007)
Bills Indexed by Subject
AIRCRAFT AND AIRPORTS
HB 118 --- Sponsor: Schaaf, Robert
Specifies the situations in which the Civil Air Patrol may be activated, which missions are federal or state, and who pays for the missions
HB 302 --- Sponsor: Bruns, Mark J. --- CoSponsor: Schaaf, Robert
Changes the laws regarding state aviation trust funds and air traffic control towers
HB 305 --- Sponsor: Bruns, Mark J. --- CoSponsor: Page, Sam
Increases the limit on the amount deposited into the Aviation Trust Fund to $8.5 million
HB 529 --- Sponsor: Bruns, Mark J.
Changes the laws regarding the Aviation Trust Fund and air traffic control towers
HB 571 --- Sponsor: St. Onge, Neal C. --- CoSponsor: Schneider, Vicki
Changes the definition of "commercial aircraft" by lowering the maximum certified gross take-off weight from 7,000 to 1,000 pounds
HB 619 --- Sponsor: Aull, Joe --- CoSponsor: Schaaf, Robert
Specifies the situations in which the Civil Air Patrol may be activated, which missions are federal or state, and who pays for the missions
HB 624 --- Sponsor: Wilson, Larry --- CoSponsor: Quinn, Paul
Requires operators of storage facilities to provide documentation for property tax purposes
SB 120 --- Sponsor: Nodler, Gary
Increases the cap on the Aviation Trust Fund and allows the Aviation Trust Fund to be used for certain federal air traffic control cost-sharing programs
Last Updated February 7, 2007 at 6:24 pm
NOTE: Here’s your Web site address for Texas Legislation: www.texas.gov
Look for Transportation-Aviation, to search all Aviation Bills.
Web site for Illinois Legislation: www.illinois.gov
Look for Transportation-Aviation, to search all Aviation Bills.
All other State Pilot Associations can follow the same format, to search your specific state’s aviation and airport bills.
Remember, that as Members of, USPA, MPA, TPA, NMPA, NPA, EAA, AOPA, or other pilot associations of which you may be a member, we have a powerful voice, be it here in Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Texas, or whatever state you may represent.
Every group of taxpayers and pilots, carries a strong voice to Washington, D.C., as well as at the State and Local Level, we need to learn how to use our voices. So Let’s Do It Today!
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