Lots Of People Don't Like User Fees...

The Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA) tells ANN there are a LOT of entities opposed to user fees against general aviation. On Friday, the organization announced over 3,000 businesses, charitable organizations, aviation professionals, rural and agricultural organizations, and individuals in all 50 states have joined the Alliance to fight against the "user fees" tax contained in proposals for reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

These members include the Montana Pilots’ Association, the Intertribal Agriculture Council, the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota, the Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association, the Arkansas Airport Operators Association, Flights For Life, Inc., the American Agriculture Movement, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska, the National Association of Farmer Elected Committee Members, Women in Aviation, Kid's Wings, Northwoods Airlifeline and Angel Flight of Georgia.

"This huge outpouring of grassroots support will continue to send a strong message to lawmakers that small businesses and communities around the country are united against this corporate welfare package for the big airlines and user fees tax," said Selena Shilad, Executive Director for the Alliance for Aviation Across America.

The Alliance notes S.1300, which was recently introduced in the Senate, would overhaul the current funding system for FAA in favor of a new "user fee" tax on small businesses and towns across the country that rely on small planes, by charging a flat $25 fee for each IFR trip leg. In addition, the Senate Commerce Committee recommended elimination of the $.043 per gallon fuel tax the big airlines currently pay, while general aviation would be faced with a doubling of the fuel tax -- from $.21/gallon to $.49/gallon.

If implemented, this plan would result in a $500 million per year net tax giveaway for the airlines, the Alliance says, which would be directly shouldered by small planes. 

In response to an outpouring of opposition to this tax from businesses and communities around the country, Senators Nelson and Sununu recently introduced an amendment to strip out a user fees tax during the Senate Commerce Committee’s consideration of S. 1300. As ANN reported, this amendment was narrowly defeated in the Senate Commerce Committee by one vote, 12-11. In the coming weeks, the Senate Committee on Finance will consider its own bill on FAA funding.

"America’s cattlemen rely heavily upon small airports and small planes of all types for their livelihood," said Independent Beef Association of North Dakota (I-BAND) President, Pat Becker. "The user fee and tax increase proposal being considered by the Senate represent a direct threat to our families, our businesses, and our farms. We are urging the Congress to stand tall and reject user fees and unfair tax increases on general aviation in any form."

"This proposal is a lose-lose: small planes would face a huge new tax burden, as well as increased red tape and bureaucracy. These massive tax increases are not only a serious threat to the future of general aviation in this country, but to the businesses and commerce generated by non commercial aviation that is the lifeblood of the economy of smaller cities such as ours," added City of New Braunfels, TX Airport Director Andy Spinks.

Members of the Alliance for Aviation Across America also include: the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, whose membership is comprised of 412,000 members nationwide, the National Business Aviation Association, whose membership includes 8,000 members, the National Farmers Union, the League of Rural Voters, the National Association of State Aviation Officials, the National Grange, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council , the American Corn Growers Association, the Independent Cattlemen of Texas, the Texas Farm Bureau, Air Care Alliance, the National Agricultural Aviation Association, Helicopter Association International, and over 1200 small and medium-size businesses, charitable organizations, and groups and associations from across the nation.

FMI: www.aviationacrossamerica.org