Northwest CEO Richard Anderson Jabs General Aviation

ATC USER FEES: AOPA, NORTHWEST BUTT HEADS
AOPA President Phil Boyer says his "productive meeting" with
Northwest Airlines CEO Richard Anderson Friday led to the result
that the two "will agree to disagree" on the topic of user fees
for air traffic control services. Anderson claimed in an editorial
in Northwest's Inflight Magazine (reported earlier by AVweb) that
airlines are subsidizing general aviation through the fees they
pay for aviation services. Boyer said Anderson's remarks might


Since user fees will more than likely become a fact of life someday,
how about beginning to lobby for the conditions of said fees. Like, how
about fees based on airframe weight. Yeah, that seems like a good ratio.

"Casey Wilson" wrote in message
...
Since user fees will more than likely become a fact of life someday,
how about beginning to lobby for the conditions of said fees.

Maybe we ought to turn all the interstate highways into toll roads too.

I don't see why user fees are a foregone conclusion. There's a strong
argument that the aviation infrastructure is simply part of the national
transportation system, just as public roads are, and should be primarily
funded from the public tax base.

Conversely, if we're going to accept user fees for all airports and aviation
services, why don't we just eliminate all public funding, and impose fee
structures on everything. Education, highways, parks, defense, law
enforcement, emergency response, and everything else your taxes currently
pay for.

Pete

Peter Duniho wrote:

I don't see why user fees are a foregone conclusion. There's a strong
argument that the aviation infrastructure is simply part of the national
transportation system, just as public roads are, and should be primarily
funded from the public tax base.


A large chunk of the aviation infrastructure is already funded by user
fees, aka ticket taxes. The airlines' argument is their customers pay
this user fee, but private and corporate jets do not. These private
jets compete with the airliners for space in the jetways.

I don't think the airlines really give a hoot about piston aircraft, since
we are fairly well segregated from the airliners. They care most about
the private jets that directly compete with the airliners for slots
on the jetways and airport approaches and departures.

"Ross Oliver" wrote in message ...

A large chunk of the aviation infrastructure is already funded by user
fees, aka ticket taxes. The airlines' argument is their customers pay
this user fee, but private and corporate jets do not. These private
jets compete with the airliners for space in the jetways.

It is NOT the case that GA doesn't pay. There's already a hefty
fuel tax. The airlines have just come up with a scheme that allows
them shift more to people other than them.

I don't think the airlines really give a hoot about piston aircraft, since
we are fairly well segregated from the airliners. They care most about
the private jets that directly compete with the airliners for slots
on the jetways and airport approaches and departures.

I don't think it's a competition thing. It's a $$$ thing. The airlines are already
at the head of the line for arrival slots. By jetway I assume you mean airway.
A jetway is a passenger loading bridge. There's not really any competition
for airway use other than terminal arrivals.

In article , Peter Duniho
wrote:

Maybe we ought to turn all the interstate highways into toll roads too.

There was an article in my Sunday newspaper relating that the federal
government has already relaxed control of the interstate highway system
to allow toll enhancements along the interstate highway right of way.