randall g wrote:

Now, of course, would I *prefer* to use ATC? Sure! We use VFR flight
following on virtually every flight, and we enjoy visiting big-city
airports. But if the FAA imposes user fees based on ATC use, it would
be child's play to stop talking to them -- especially now that we have
XM weather on-board.

How would you feel about an annual charge for all the ATC you can eat?
Here in Canada it is $71 per year (us$64) for aircraft 2000 kg.

I don't have a problem with that.

I may not..in theory. But only if they eliminate the federal fuel tax
on 100LL. I estimate that I paid in about $320 USD last year from
fuel taxes.

So for me it may be a fair deal. For someone who rarely flies it is
not. Seems to me that the aviation fuel tax is about as equitable as
you can get. You fly more you pay more. Fly less, pay less.

Ron Lee