Sat, Mar 11, 2006
ANN's Interview With Rep. Todd Tiahrt, Coming Monday
In the course of ANN's
coverage of the user fee issue, we've reported on a number of
entities and individuals weighing in on the ATA's position on user
fees. Aero-News was recently able to speak, at length, with Kansas
Congressman Todd Tiahrt (right) -- an outspoken opponent to
user fees -- about the Air Transport Association's proposal.
"I think ATA is putting forth a proposal that would essentially
be a cost shift from commercial carriers to private and business
aircraft that I think is unnecessary, heavily bureaucratic, and not
acceptable to Congress in general," Rep. Tiahrt tells ANN
Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell, adding the airlines are betting that
user fees will help them solve ongoing financial issues created by
the "leftover effect from 9/11."
Moreover, the proposal comes at a time when the FAA predicts
that annual passenger loads will hit one billion passengers within
a decade -- meaning the airlines should be looking at better times
ahead, not worse.
"One way to grow revenue is to increase the economy, and air
travel which would accompany that increase in the economy," Tiahrt
says.
"The problem with using
user fees as a means for new revenue is twofold," Tiahrt adds. "It
creates new bureaucracy, and part of that increased revenue would
be consumed by that bureaucratic mess... and the second part of
that is user fees have a stifling effect on air travel for personal
air travel, personal planes, and business jets."
You'll be able to hear all of ANN's chat with Congressman Tiahrt
Monday, as our ANN Special Feature Aero-Cast. Be sure to check it
out!
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