Greetings! First, Here’s an update from Washington. D.C. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters this week told a gathering of aviation industry leaders in Washington, D.C., that Congress needs to act, and act soon, on an FAA Reauthorization Bill.
Her speech presented the same old administration song and dance to the tune of user fees, excessive tax increases on general aviation, and congestion pricing for access into certain airports.
Speaking to the Aero Club of Washington, Peters noted that it has been nearly a year since the Bush Administration sent its proposal containing radical financing changes to Capitol Hill for consideration. Both the House and the Senate rejected that proposal for user fees, and a 70-cent-per-gallon tax on avgas, and jet fuel in favor of the current tax-based structure, although the Senate retained vestiges of the administration’s user fee proposal.
In late summer, the full House approved its version (H.R. 2881), but the Senate has yet to bring its two competing versions to the floor for debate.
In a statement issued the morning after Peters’ comments, Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), the Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, reminded Peters that the House has done its part, and joined the call for the Senate to act soon.
“I am sure that Secretary Peters remembers that the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2881, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, last September,” Costello said. “It took the introduction and passage of that legislation and the rigorous oversight hearings our subcommittee held for the Department of Transportation and the FAA to take action on so many of the issues Secretary Peters mentioned yesterday.”
The House version contains no user fees and inflation-adjusted increases in general aviation fuel taxes. The Senate Commerce Committee has approved a $25 user fee for turbine aircraft.
The two versions need to be reconciled in the full Senate, then the Senate and House needs to agree on a compromise version that can be sent to the White House for President Bush’s signature.
In the meantime, a stopgap measure is keeping the FAA operating through February. But pending airport improvement projects are stuck in a holding pattern because the temporary funding does not give the FAA permission to approve new projects.
Secondly, The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommends FAA require all cargo airplanes operating under FAR 121 install fire suppression systems.
Thirdly, Texas Transportation Commission approves some $5,090.000 in funding for the design of a replacement runway and control tower at Collin County Regional Airport in McKinney. Project is estimated to cost $56 million and is scheduled for completion in late 2012. Construction on a new tower is planned for 2008.
Fourthly, Here’s an update concerning Missouri Aviation. The only Airport and Aviation Bills are as follows:
Missouri
House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session (2008)
Bills Indexed by Subject
AIRCRAFT AND AIRPORTS
HB 1495 --- Sponsor: Bruns, Mark J. --- CoSponsor: Sater, David
Changes the laws regarding the Aviation Trust Fund and the funding for certain air traffic control towers
HB 1639 --- Sponsor: Bruns, Mark J. --- CoSponsor: Richard, Ron
Changes the laws regarding the Aviation Trust Fund and air traffic control towers
HB 1760 --- Sponsor: Storch, Rachel --- CoSponsor: Oxford, Jeanette Mott
Requires statewide elected officials and members of the General Assembly to report any use of a private plane, the cost of the flight, and all the passengers within 72 hours after the flight
HB 1888 --- Sponsor: Schoeller, Shane --- CoSponsor: Lampe, Sara
Allows cities to annex land within airport zones in Greene County if cities agree to enforce Springfield’s airport zoning ordinance
HCR 10 --- Sponsor: Scharnhorst, Dwight
Urges Congress to enact legislation to protect airline customers
SB 930 --- Sponsor: Stouffer, Bill
Removes cap on amount of aviation generated revenue that may be deposited in state aviation trust fund and expands purposes for which moneys in the aviation trust fund may be used
SB 943 --- Sponsor: Clemens, Dan
Allows cities to annex land within airport zones in Greene County if cities agree to enforce Springfield's airport zoning ordinance
SB 947 --- Sponsor: Kennedy, Harry
Increases the cap on amount of aviation generated revenue that may be deposited in state aviation trust fund and expands purposes for which moneys in the aviation trust fund may be used
SB 1049 --- Sponsor: Kennedy, Harry
Expands sales tax exemption purchases of tangible personal property used in the repair and maintenance of aircraft
Last Updated January 31, 2008 at 4:14 pm
NOTE: Your Web site address for Texas Legislation: www.texas.gov
Look for Transportation-Aviation, to search all aviation bills.
Web site address for Illinois legislation: www.illinois.gov
Look for Transportation-Aviation, to search all aviation bills.
All other states should follow this same format, to search your specific state’s aviation and airport bills.
Remember, that as members of USPA, MPA, TPA, TXAA, NMPA, NPA, IPA, EAA, AOPA, or other pilot associations of which you may be a member, we have a powerful voice, in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, 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, and speak up for general aviation.
So let us 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