On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:29:44 GMT, "Steve Foley"
wrote in IZDIg.1209$dj4.1069@trndny08:

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
.. .
On 28 Aug 2006 07:57:24 -0700, "jbskies" wrote in
. com:

FAA wants GA users pay additional user fees that to match the airline
users.

Aren't you comparing the cost of airport facilities to Air Traffic
Control costs?


Why does it make a difference? It all comes out of the 'Aviation Trust
Fund'.


It makes a difference, because ATC user fees would only be paid for
ATC services, not runway improvements.

It is my understanding, that the Aviation Trust Fund is funded by
aviation fuel tax and airline ticket tax. If you look at Airport
Improvement Program (AIP) Handbook Order 5100.38C
http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/aip/aip_handbook/,
you'll see, that those taxes do not fully fund the Airport Improvement
Program, and I recall reading that the cost of Air Traffic Control is
not fully funded through those taxes either.

If you are able to provide information to the contrary, I would be
interested in seeing it. There's a clue he
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/la-userfees.html

For nearly four decades, excise taxes on general aviation fuel,
airline passenger tickets, and cargo have financed the bulk of the
expenses for airport improvements, modernizing the air traffic
control system, researching new technologies, and the operations
of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control
system. The taxes deposited into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund
support nearly 87 percent of the FAA budget. The remainder of the
FAA's budget is funded through a contribution from the General
Fund. This reflects the public benefit conveyed to all Americans
by the world's safest, most efficient national airspace system.

So perhaps revenue derived from GA fuel tax should be used solely for
GA improvements and ATC, and airline ticket tax revenue should be used
solely for aviation infrastructure and ATC that benefits airlines. :-)
While that would be equitable, it would be difficult to implement.

But the REAL issue is not about funding ATC, it's about wresting
Congressional oversight away from FAA matters, so that big business
can fill their order books and develop a new revenue stream all in the
erroneous name of providing a benefit to the nation and the public.
Don't be fooled.