Tue, May 12, 2009
NBAA informs ANN that in the Administration's fiscal year 2010
budget, it intends to continue the existing taxes next year, but
has previously signaled that they are considering a shift to user
fees for 2011.
The plan, released last week, only maps out funding for FY2010,
which led NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen (pictured below) to
observe: "It's good to see that there are no user fees for general
aviation in the Administration's budget plan for 2010. However, we
remain concerned that the Administration's long-term planning could
leave the door open to user fee proposals for general aviation.
This would be a very divisive approach at a time when the industry
needs to come together and move forward in making NextGen a
reality. We will continue to work with members of Congress and the
Administration on a funding plan that builds upon the proven and
efficient fuel tax for general aviation."
As regards fuel tax considerations, in testimony before the
House Ways and Means Committee on the status of the FAA Aviation
Trust Fund, leaders of a separate committee - the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee - urged support for
building on the aviation fuel tax for general aviation operators to
contribute to FAA funding and aviation system modernization. During
testimony, Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN--pictured below), said
H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, is in line with that
vision, and that "the aviation excise taxes that support the Trust
Fund have proven to be a stable and adequate source of funding for
aviation programs, without imposing undue administrative burdens on
system users."
Other Transportation Committee members also supported the
bill.
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